UDALGURI, Feb 13 ? The Nepali-speaking communities all over India and the Bodos in Assam and other NE States both belong to the minority linguistic groups like other minorities sharing common problems and hence when the Bodoland Territorial Council is formed, the Bodo organisations themselves have to ensure security to land, property and human resources of all minority ethnic groups living in the BTC. This view was expressed by Sri Sukhman Moktan, organising secretary of All India Gorkha Parishanga while speaking as distinguished guest in the open session of the 34th biennial (golden jubilee year) conference of Darrang district committee of All Assam Nepali Students? Union (AANSU). Sri Moktan also urged other Nepali organisations of Assam to come under the banner All India Gorkha Parisangha, an umbrella organisation of the Nepali-speaking community of India.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Sri Gopal Acharya, vice-president of AANSU explained the reasons behind extending co-operations to ABSU during the last Assembly elections in Assam. Sri Dilu Sharma, general secretary of the students? organisation, speaking on the occasion as appointed speaker hoped that the proposed BTC would ensure safety of all minority linguistic groups and herald development and prosperity in the BTC area. Idul Haque, president of Darrang unit of All Assam Students? Union explained the grounds behind supporting the ABSU on BTC issue and hoped that ABSU will take all non-tribal organisations into confidence even after the formation of BTC. Prafulla Boro, ex-president of Darrang unit of ABSU criticised those voicing against the formation of BTC and promised on behalf of ABSU and other Bodo organisation that BTC would be fruitful to all living in this territory, and land and property of all non-tribals living here would be protected as per constitutional provision. Sri Madhab Karki, adviser of BAC-AANSU explained his experiences with Bodo leaders during the long journey of agitational programmes on BTC and hoped that the non-tribals would be provided all security in the proposed BTC. The open session was addressed by Ravindra Mochary, president of Darrang unit of ABSU, Sri BM Pradhan, secretary of Durga Malla Statue Construction Committee, Sri Ram Budathoki, secretary of BAC-AANSU, Sri Kewali Sedhai, president of Assam Gorkha Sammelan, BAC region committee among many others.
Earlier the open session was inaugurated by Leela Mishra ?Sundar?, ex-president of Darrang unit of AANSU followed by release of Prabhat, mouthpiece of the Darrang unit of AANSU by Sri Tarapati Upadhyaya, principal of Udalguri BEd College. A colourful cultural procession was also taken around Rowta township on the occasion. Sri Narendra Bikram Subba, cultural secretary of Darrang unit of AANSU inaugurated the cultural nite in the evening.
The conference started with inauguration of delegates? camp on January 31 by Sri Hari Sarmah, social worker of Udalguri followed by AANSU flag hoisting on February 1 by Sri Purna Singh Bantawa, president of the students organisation followed by floral tribute to the martyrs by Sri Dipak Nirol a general secretary of the organisation. The Sahitya Gosthi on the occasion was inaugurated by Sri Bidyapati Dahal, conducted by Sri Jagannidhi Dahal and reviewed by Sri Laxmi Sedhai. The delegates session was inaugurated by Gopi Chetry, president of reception committee of the two-day conference.
A 24-number new committee for the new session was also formed on the occasion with Sri Purna Singh Bantawa as president, Sri Dipak Nirola and Sri Dal Bahadur Khadka as vice-presidents, Sri Narayan Upadhayaya as general secretary, Sri Sanjib Chetry and Sri Bhuban Bhandari as assistant general secretaries and Sri Narendra B Subba and Sri Ramesh Dahal as organising secretaries and Sri Paban Luitel as publicity secretary and Sri Biren Thapa as cultural secretary. Sri Abhay Poudyal, secretary of reception committee of the two-day conference offered vote of thanks to all for their co-operation.