NEW DELHI, Jan 9 — Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said that differences between the State Government and the agitating Bodo leadership has been narrowed down considerably. The Chief Minister’s remarks came even as a crucial two-day tripartite talks of Assam Government, Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) and the Centre got underway here today. The Chief Minister today told newsmen that major differences have been narrowed down and only few minor ones remained to be sorted out. Informed sources told this Correspondent that the State Cabinet recently discussed the issue of clearing the proposal for creation of Bodoland Territorial Council by amending the Sixth Schedule, though a final decision was yet to be taken. A cabinet resolution adopted to the effect is to be submitted to the Centre paving the way for amendment of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, secrecy marked the two-day talks with Centre keeping developments under the wraps. The venue for the talks scheduled to be held at the North Block was changed at the last minute and BLT leadership and other delegates were taken to a posh hotel where discussions took place. Talks continued till late in the evening. Later, Ministry of Home Affairs officials led by special secretary Dr PD Shenoy briefed the Chief Minister about the developments. Significantly, Sri Gogoi also called on AICC president Sonia Gandhi in the afternoon and briefed her about the ongoing discussions with the BLT leadership. “I have briefed that the talks were progressing along the expected lines and barring a few technical issues, larger issues have been sorted out,” he told this newspaper.
Meanwhile, president of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), Rabindram Narzary assured that all the rights of the non-Bodo people including the right to property, Government jobs and other political rights would protected under the proposed BTC. He accused certain vested interest of creating unnecessary apprehension in the minds of non-Bodos. Sri Narzary who has accompanied the BLT delegation said that it has become increasingly difficult for the Bodo leadership to pacify the people as they were getting agitated with the endless rounds of negotiations. The Government of Assam should seize the initiative as the Bodo leadership has scaled down the demand for division of Assam to creation of BTC.
Sri Narzary said that the proposed BTC would be different from that of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. The proposed Council would guarantee full protection of the political rights of the non-Bodos living within the BTC. For that the Centre has to amend certain provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, he added. The ABSU president said that the proposed BTC would only cover the tribal belts and blocks. He clarified that the proposed BTC does not include towns like Bongaigaon, Rangiya, Nalbari or Barpeta. “Its just rumours spread by vested sections to confuse the people,” he claimed. According to the proposal under discussion the BTC boundary would have river Sankosh as its western boundary, the tribal belts and blocks beyond Sonitpur district as its eastern boundary. In the north it would have Bhutan as northern boundary and to the south the villages notified by the then Saikia government as its southern boundary.