GUWAHATI, Feb 8— Adviser of All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), U G Brahma has stated that formation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) to solve the Bodo problem and rehabilitation of riot-hit Adivasi people are two separate issues which should not be mixed up by any quarter. Talking to The Assam Tribune from Kokrajhar over phone today, the ABSU leader in response to opposition aired by Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam (ACMA) to formation of the BTC before taking concrete steps for rehabilitation and protection of rights of Adivasis living in Bodoland areas, said that ABSU was prepared to extend full co-operation to Government’s effort for the welfare of Adivasi people.
He, however, stated that the issue of rehabilitation and protection rights of Adivasis should not be linked up with the formation of a BTC for solution of the vexed Bodo problem. The leader of the ABSU, which has been supporting the BLT demand for a BTC in the on-going tri-partite peace talks, protection of rights of Adivasi people and rehabilitation of the riot victims of the community would in no way be hampered after formation of BTC. The ABSU leader today stated that it was eagerly awaiting for the State Government to take a Cabinet decision and send a note to the Centre favouring formation of a BTC under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Sri Brahma said that the State Government should prepare and send the necessary Cabinet note to the Centre as early as possible so that the latter could not blame the State Government for delay in finding a solution to the Bodo problem on the basis of the tri-partite peace talks involving the Centre, State Government and the BLT.
The ABSU leader claimed that as on today all the communities living in the proposed BTC area were in favour of formation of the territorial council to find a lasting solution to the Bodo problem. It may be mentioned that the Central Government had asked Assam Government to clarify its stand on three key points regarding formation of the BTC. The Centre asked the State Government to state whether it agreed or not to extension of the Sixth Schedule to plain areas of the State to facilitate formation of the BTC. The State was also asked to clarify its stand on demarcation of the BTC boundary as well as formation of four contiguous districts that will comprise the BTC. Sources informed that the State Government had in principle agreed to extension of the Sixth Schedule to plain areas and formation of the four contiguous districts. The Government is having discussion with MLAs from different parties regarding the demarcation of the BTC areas.