KPP convention held in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 7: The open central convention of Kamtapur People’s Party (KPP) was held at Eight Mile here today. Senior KPP leaders of the region who attended the convention accused the state government of neglecting the Kamtapuris. They chose the occasion to renew the demand for the creation of a separate state for the Kamtapuri people. The KPP, formed in 1996, has been demanding recognition of the Kamptapuri language. The general secretary of the KKP central committee, Mr Subhas Barman, said: “We would not be under the control of the Kolkata-based political leaders. After interacting with the people and the KPP supporters, we would finalise a place in north Bengal that would be the capital of the proposed Kamtapuri state,” Mr Barman, said.Mr Barman criticised alleged police atrocities on him and his associates. “The police unnecessarily linked us to the KLO,” he said. Hundreds of people from across the region attended today’s convention. The KPP also organised “Chetana Yatra”, a cycle rally from Sankosh to Ganga, covering the entire north Bengal districts before organising the open convention in Malda today.The KPP leaders said that they selected Malda as the venue for the convention to mobilse more people, demanding a separate Kamtapur state. The KPP has a strong base in Bamongola, Gazole and Habibpur in Malda.