GUWAHATI, Feb 22— Though Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi recently assured the Bodo leaders to form the interim council of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) by March 10, the whole process is likely to be delayed because of some legal complications. The Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) leaders including the chairman of the outfit Hagrama Basumatary, vice chairman Kamal Mushahary and Publicity Secretary Mainao Daimary, along with Member of Parliament Urkhau Gwra Brahma and All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) president Rabiram Narzary yesterday met the Union Home Secretary at New Delhi to discuss matters relating to the implementation of the accord signed between the Central and State Governments and the BLT for creation of the BTC under the provisions of the amended sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Talking to The Assam Tribune today, BLT vice chairman Kamal Mushahary said that for the formation of the interim council of the BTC, the State Government would have to scrap the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) Act. He revealed that the formation of the interim council will be delayed as the Bill for the amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India would have to be passed in the Parliament to pave the way for creation of the BTC.
“The Union Home Secretary informed us that the Home Ministry has already discussed the issue with the Law Ministry and the Bill for amending the Sixth Schedule will be tabled in the Parliament during the current session. He also informed us that the Sixth Schedule can not be amended by an ordinance at a time when the Parliament is in session,” he added. He also reiterated that the BLT would be disbanded after the formation of the interim council, following which the cadres will surrender their weapons.
The BLT vice chairman disclosed that they already had series of discussions with the leaders of the ABSU and other Bodo mass organisations on the composition of the interim council and,” we have almost finalised the list.” He said that there was no conflict among Bodo organisations on the composition of the interim council as reported in a section of the media and “We are working together for the implementation of the Accord.”
Sri Mushahary said that a decision has been taken to form a tripartite accord implementation committee to ensure speedy and proper implementation of all the clauses of the Accord. The BLT chairman, vice chairman and publicity secretary will represent the BLT in the committee, which will also have representatives from the Central and State governments. Another tripartite committee has been formed to finalise the boundary of the BTC and the first meeting of the committee will be held shortly. The tripartite committee is scheduled to finalise the boundary within three months.