ABSU decision on alliance with AGP soon

GUWAHATI, April 2: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) will take the final decision on extending support to the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in the ensuing polls within the next few days, said the ABSU president, Rabi Ram Narzary. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Narzary said that both the AGP and the BJP have sought the support of the ABSU for the ensuing polls. He revealed that the ABSU and other Bodo organisations like the Bodo Peoples' Action Committee, All Bodo Employees Federation and the Bodo Women's Welfare Federation would meet at Kajalgaon on April 4 to form a central election committee and the decisions on the poll ties would be taken by the committee. The ABSU president said that all the indigenous people of Assam must fight unitedly for their survival. He also appealed to all groups of indigenous people to fight the polls unitedly. The ABSU, in its last conference at Barama, decided to extend support to parties which support the cause of the Bodo people. Narzary said that both the AGP and the BJP have shown willingness to work for amicable solution of the Bodo problems. He said that the AGP-led Government in the State have shown keen interest in solution of the Bodo problem and initiated steps for an amicable settlement of the ongoing peace talks between the Government of India and the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT). He pointed out that the AGP Government did not object to the inclusion of the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council in the 6th schedule of the Constitution of India and the Government even played a positive role in finalising the boundary of the proposed council. The ABSU president admitted that the AGP has formed a high level committee headed by party general secretary Chandra Mohan Patowary to hold discussion with the ABSU on possible poll alliance and the AGP and the ABSU held three rounds of discussions till date. The ABSU had earlier announced its decision to back independent candidates in 31 Assembly constituencies but, Narzary said that now everything would depend on the possible poll tie-up. Commenting on the possible poll tie-up between the AGP and the BJP, Narzary said, "we have seen reports in this regard and we welcome such a move. Both the AGP and BJP have shown willingness to solve the Bodo problem and we hope that poll ties between the parties would help us." The ABSU is satisfied at the progress of peace talks between the Government and the BLT and hoped that a solution, acceptable to all Bodo people, would come out of the talks. Narzary said that the ABSU was closely observing the progress of the talks and a delegation of the ABSU was sent to Delhi to observe the development on the last rounds of talks. The ABSU delegation also met the Union Home Minister L K Advani who assured to take all possible steps to solve the Bodo problem. He said that the ABSU was happy at the promises given by the Government including inclusion of the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council in the 6th schedule of the Constitution, inclusion of Bodo language in the 8th Schedule etc and "if the promises are fulfilled, the Bodo people would definitely accept such a package." The ABSU president further expressed the hope that the peace talks between the Government and the BLT would not be affected even if the Government changes at Dispur. He said that the state government has already played its part by taking Cabinet decisions and now it is up to the Union government to play a positive role to solve the problem.