21st Bodoland Day observed by Bodoland People's Front (BPF) in Kokrajhar

KOKRAJHAR: The 21st BTC Accord Day was observed by the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), Kokrajhar district committee as Bodoland Day on Friday at Bodoland Movement Martyrs' Cemetery, Debargaon. Although the 3rd BTR Accord Day is observed on January 27 in every district and subdivisional headquarter by the UPPL-led BTC government, the BPF has been celebrating the BTC accord day on February 10 every year. The BTC accord was signed on February 10, 2003 between the Government of India, Government of Assam and BLT.

As part of the programme, the president of BPF, Hagrama Mohilary, who was also former chief of BTC, paid floral tribute at the statue of Bodofa UN Brahma in front of BTC Secretariat followed by hoisting of party flag and homage to martyrs at the Bodoland Movement Martyrs' Cemetery, Debargaon where a public meeting was also held. Several hundreds of people, including families of movement martyrs, attended the celebration. The Bodoland Movement martyr families were felicitated on the occasion.

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of the celebration, former chief of BTC and president of BPF, Hagrama Mohilary said that February 10 was a historic day as BTC was signed on this day in 2003 between the Government of India, Government of Assam and BLT to usher in a new era in Bodoland by bringing economic development and protection of political rights of the tribal people. He said the BPF would fight alone in the Kokrajhar and Mangaldai seats in the 2024 parliamentary election. He said there was no electioneering understanding with any party but it is sure that the BPF would fight it alone.

When asked whether the BPF would go for pre-poll alliance either with the BJP or Congress, he said there was no immediate decision of pre-poll understanding with both the parties. He said the poll alliance was not at all permanent with any particular party and thus the BPF could go for electioneering understanding with any party in the days to come if the situation favours.

Attacking the Pramod Boro-led BTC government, Mohilary said that Boro had blamed the BPF-led BTC government for financial irregularities. But Mohilary said that no financial irregularities or mismanagement happened during his tenure as all financial transactions, expenditures were thoroughly checked by the Accountant General and approved by both the BTC assembly and Dispur. Thus, constant accusations on financial handling made by Boro were not based on facts. Mohilary alleged that the present council government had been doing various irregularities by defaulting norms.