NEW DELHI, July 4? An expert committee comprising officials of both Union and Assam Government would now draft the proposals for safeguard of the non-Bodos to pave the way for amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution leading to creation of a Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). But hurdles for smooth resolution of the Bodo tangle still remained, with Assam Government springing a new surprise by demanding inclusion of Schedule Tribe status for Koch Rajbongshi and Adivasi community living within the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC). Their demand for inclusion in the Schedule Tribe list should be met, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi said here today, addressing a press conference.
Dr Bhumidhar Barman, who is the chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee on Bodo Affairs later told newsmen that the Constitutional safeguards should also include reservation of seats for non-Bodos in the Assam Legislative Assembly. The demand for ST status to Adivasi and Koch Rajbongshi communities who together with other smaller groups comprise about 65 percent of the population in BAC areas may not go down well with the Bodoland Liberation Tigers (BLT) and may be seen as a move to subvert their proposed BTC.
Meanwhile, at the press conference, the Chief Minister who was joined by State Forest Minister, Bharat Narah and Dr Barman, said the State Government has conceded to many of the proposal including creation of four new districts, reservation of seats in the proposed Council and recognition of Bodo language under the Eight Schedule of the Constitution. ?We have met most of their demands though differences over handing over of villages still remain,? he added.
?Out of the 353 disputed villages, we have agreed to give away 126 villages but they are demanding 101 more for which further discussions are necessary?, he said, hinting that another all-party meeting may be convened to thrash out the issue. The Chief Minister?s meeting with the deputy Prime Minister, LK Advani here today on the issue was to convey the position of the State Government on the issue and the resolution of the last all-party meeting. At the meeting held in the North Block office which was attended by top Home Ministry and State Government officials including the two State Ministers and Union Home Secretary, Kamal Pande, Chief Minister conveyed that State Government was for creation of BTC under modified form of Sixth Schedule.
The Chief Minister in reply to a question also revealed that it favoured involvement of the non-Bodo groups in the peace talks. ?We had even submitted a list identifying various non-Bodo groups who could be involved in the talk process. The Home Ministry also agreed to invite them but it never materialised,? he said. Meanwhile, Dr Barman later told newsmen that they favoured reservation of seats in proposed BTC areas for non-Bodos in Assembly. This would form part of the political safeguards, he asserted. If the Government can assure full protection of all their rights including right to contest elections and own land, then I am confident that non-Bodo communities would support creation of BTC,? he said.