A CORRESPONDENT
JAMUGURIHAT: The government’s decision to include many Assamese and Adivasi villages of the northern part of Sootea in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) got a mixed response from the residents of the area. Due to the decision of the inclusion of the said villages, the villagers would lose their relations with the Biswanath LAC and Biswanath district as well. Rather, the said villages will be included in Mazbat LAC and Udalguri district.
Since the inception of the BTR and widening of its geographical boundary, various types of confusions have arisen among the residents. The residents of the concerned villages showed demonstrations against the government decision. The local residents alleged that the decision was taken keeping the local residents in the dark.
In this regard, a public meeting was held at Sapekhati with Abani Barua in the chair. The public meeting condemned the government decision of inclusion of villages which have less than 5 percent of Bodo people. The public meeting also alleged that the government ignored the opinion of the local residents. The public meeting also expressed great concern that the inclusion would bring adverse effects on the lifestyle and culture of the residents.
A new committee was formed to intimate the issue with the concerned department and the government as well. The public meeting however expressed their happiness over the state government’s role in resolving the long-pending demand for extension of the BTR. The public meeting also clarified that the demonstration was not against the Bodo people but against the decision of inclusion of non-Bodo villages in the BTR.
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