NEW DELHI, June 24 ?Under pressure to retrieve the Bodo peace process the Assam Government has shed its rigid stand on the contentious issues including demarcation of the boundary of the proposed Bodoland Terri-torIAL Council (BTC). Although the Assam Government today reiterated its stand of demarcating the BTC on the basis of the 1999 notification, it however, added that it has an open mind on the issue and was willing to resolve it on a give-and-take basis. Assam Government officials described the latest series of moves to revive the BLT peace talks as positive, claiming that the talks were back on the rails.
The fate of the peace process would now hinge to a large extent on the outcome of the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati tomorrow. The Government proposes to gauge the mind of the opposition parties before taking a final decision on demarcation of the BTC. The Chief Minister armed with the decision of the all-party meeting, would meet Union Home Minister L K Advani on July 1 to formally convey Assam Government?s stand, sources said, adding that a tripartite meeting with the Bodo leadership would be convened thereafter.
Meanwhile, Assam Government and Home Ministry officials today held a meeting where the former submitted its views. The meeting was chaired by Special Secretary (North-East), A M Nimbalkar. Assam Government was represented by JSL Vasava, Commissioner and Secretary, Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes and other top State Government officials. Sources in the MHA said the Assam Government had conveyed that it was favourably inclined towards resolving the issue. According to sources, though the Assam Government as of now is sticking to its stand of demarcating the BTC boundary on the basis of the 1999 notification, it has not ruled out considering the 1993 notification as well, as being demanded by BLT. The Chief Minister is on record as saying that his Government has no objection in considering 1993 notification provided the Bodo leaders justified their demand. The contention mainly relates to 353 villages and the adjoining township that were taken out of the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) through the 1999 notification.
Meanwhile, the Assam Government formally conveyed today that it has no objection to creation of Bodoland Territorial Council with 40 members, of which 10 seats would be reserved for non-Bodos. The strength would be same as that of the defunct BAC. The State Government, which has been under tremendous pressure from the non-Bodo groups, has already assured constitutional safeguards to them in the BTC proposed to be created by amending the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. It further conveyed that it has no objection to transferring over 37 departments to the proposed BTC. One crucial exclusion is the Home Department. The Assam Government?s renewed interest to revive the peace process is being attributed to the pressure exerted by the Central Government, which has been alarmed by reports of BLT contemplating breaking away from the peace process.