NESO, the umbrella organisation of eight student outfits of the North East, has also called for repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the region and a halt to construction of big dams.
"We want a separate constitutional status for the north eastern region, with right of the local people over land and natural resources," NESO Chairman Samujjal Bhattacharjya said here.
Bhattacharjya was leading the first phase of NESO's agitation. Members of all eight student outfits gathered in Guwahati for demonstration.
As part of the next phase of agitation, NESO members will gather in all state capitals of the North East on June 29 and hold demonstrations in front of Raj Bhavans.
Among NESO's other demands are scrapping of the Indo- Bangladesh land swap deal, end of harassment of students from the region studying in other states and a special education commission for the North East.
"We also demand the repeal of AFSPA which is a draconian act. Nothing short of complete repeal of the act would satisfy us," Bhattacharjya said.
