GUWAHATI, Feb 11 ? The historic Bodo Accord, signed yesterday between the State and Central Governments and the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), if implemented properly, will bring long lasting solution to the Bodo tangle, asserted the chairman of the BLT, Sri Hagrama Basumatary. Talking to The Assam Tribune at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport immediately after his arrival from New Delhi today, the jubilant BLT chairman assured that all possible steps would be taken to ensure protection to all sections of people living in the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area.
The BLT publicity secretary Mainao Daimari said that there would be no discrimination against any Indian citizen living in the proposed BTC area and ?we will ensure equal treatment and equal care to all sections of people.? Sri Daimari said that the executive council of the BLT would meet shortly to discuss about formation of the interim body of the BTC. He said that the BLT will soon be dissolved and there is possibility of formation of a new political party. He hoped that the Government will soon dissolve the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) to set up the interim body of the BTC. He also revealed that the BLT members will surrender all their weapons within a week from formation of the interim council. The surrender of the arms will come at a ?victory rally.?
The BLT publicity secretary said that they would take the opportunity of the ensuing annual conference of the All Bodo Students? Union (ABSU) to be held in Kokrajhar, to hold talks with the Bodo mass organisatios on the formation of the interim council. The BLT, then, will submit the list of persons to be included in the Council to the State Governor and Sri Daimari hoped that the interim council will be formed within this week. He also revealed that the Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani has assured to bring a bill in the ensuing Budget session of the Parliament for amending the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Commenting on the agitation launched by the Sanmilita Janagosthiya Sangram Samiti against the signing of the Bodo accord, Sri Daimari said that the Constitution will be amended to ensure the political, land and other rights of the non tribals. He said that there is no reason for the non-Bodos to become apprehensive as this will be the first tribal council in India to have reserved seats for non tribals and ?we also accepted the Government?s proposal for six seats to be nominated by the State Government.? He also said that the land rights of all Indian citizens within the BTC area would remain intact.
The BLT publicity secretary said that the accord would solve the socio-economic problems of the Bodo dominated areas of the State and there is no reason for the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) to keep on fighting. He appealed to all militant outfits of the North-East, particularly the NDFB, to come to the negotiation table in the interest of restoration of peace in the region. The BLT also thanked the Central and State Governments, AASU, political parties and intellectuals for playing a positive role in solution of the Bodo problem.
Meanwhile, talking to this correspondent, Member of Parliament Urkhau Gwra Brahma said that the accord is a historic achievement? as all the Bodo mass organisations rallied behind the BLT and the leaders of all these organisations were present during the signing of the accord yesterday. He pointed out that Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) did not have any constitutional safeguard, but the BTC will be formed under the provisions of amended Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. ?I am happy to see that the Government of India has realised the fact that economic development is the best way to defuse tension and unrest. The financial package, included in the Accord, may not be sufficient, but we hope that the Centre will enhance the amount on the basis of the performance of the BTC in the days to come,? he added.
Sri Brahma said that the core issues regarding the all round development of the Bodo community have been addressed in the Accord. However, he said that both the Central and State Governments would have to play vital roles in successful implementation of the Accord. The MP said that though the NDFB was not a part of the Accord, it would have an impact on the militant outfit and we believe that it is the right time for the NDFB to come forward for talks for seting their issues.
The top leaders of the BLT, along with Sri Brahma and MLA Biswajit Daimary arrived in the city by an Alliance Airlines flight from New Delhi and they were given a warm reception in the airport by the supporters of the ABSU and BLT, who were waiting in front of the airport from early this morning for the arrival of their leaders.