From our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Feb 8: Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit has been in Kokrajhar for two days. During his stay in Kokrajhar he held meetings with the district administration, Kokrajhar on the present situation in the district. He also met the leaders of various organizations at Kokrajhar Circuit House to understand their basic problems.
Attending the iugural meeting of Seemanta Chinta Manch-Purvattar on Wednesday at Kokrajhar Science College auditorium hall, Governor Purohit said that corruption in the country had brought India down in every respect. He said the hard efforts, devotion and sacrifices of the devoted leaders of the country to make India a vibrant tion were swept by corruption and misrule, against which the people of the country should stand united. He said he cancelled a programme in Meghalaya on the same day saying that the programme in Kokrajhar was far important as there would be discussion regarding border issues. He also said that every Indian should shoulder responsibility for pushing the country forward for economic sustaibility. He also praised BTC deputy chief Kampa Borgoyary who dwelt at length regarding the history of border areas with Bhutan and the peaceful and mutual relationship between the two neighbours. He also hailed Prime Minister rendra Modi for his bold steps to curb black money and terrorism.
The Governor said that demonetization had larger effects towards curbing black money and terrorist elements in the country, adding that after November 8, over Rs 4 lakh crore black money had come to banks across India. He said the role of Adivasis (tribal) in India was very important for safeguarding the border. He said the Adivasis in border areas across the country played a crucial role to protect against cross-border terrorism and foreign invasion. Citing example in Kashmir regarding the sharing of input of invasion by outsiders, Purohit said it was the Adivasis who gave the information to the government agencies to secure the border from being invaded in Kashmir in the particular case. He also called upon people to be aware of border of the country and to protect it from all odds.
The Akhil Bharatiya Seema Chintan Baithak of workers of Seemanta Cheta Mancha, working in the Indo-Bhutan intertiol border area in Kokrajhar, was hosted by Seemanta Cheta Mancha: Purvottar, Assam with active support from the BTC administration and representatives from the four States bordering Bhutan, including all the four districts of BTC. Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit attended the iugural function as chief guest along with BTC deputy chief Kampa Borgoyary on Wednesday.
Borgoyary in his speech said there was no problem in the border area in the northern part, especially in Bhutan or Nepal, other than the southern and western border with Bangladesh. He said there had been no cross-border infiltration, invasion, and encroachment in Bhutan border as the people of both the tions had deep respect for each other. The people from across the border were peaceful and they had mutual relationship and people-to-people contact, he said, adding that the Bhutan-India Friendship Association (BIFA) hads been playing a pivotal role for peace and mutual understanding in border areas of India and Bhutan. He also said there had been no instances of encroachment or infiltration in the border with Bhutan.
Borgoyary said the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) shared all the boundaries with Bhutan in Assam part and this border was peaceful. He said the Goalpara district comprising the districts of present Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Bongaigaon and Chirang was about to be merged with East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, during the partition of Bengal in 1905 but it was the Bodos, especially Gurudev Kalicharan and Rupth Brahma who opposed the move. They approached the Simon Commission opposing the idea of merging the undivided Goalpara district with Bangladesh and today, the people of this region are in India but most of the Indians have no idea about it. He also requested the Manch to discuss regarding the history of the past so that people could be made aware of their border.
The deputy chief said the people of border areas with Bhutan, especially in Datgari in Galegphu and Saralpara in Sarpang area along the Bhutan border which are situated 75-80 km from Kokrajhar, have been facing severe miseries after demonetization as there were no banking facilities. He said the farmers and daily wage laborers had to come to Kokrajhar to withdraw money and they had to spend at least Rs 85 to come to Kokrajhar. He urged the Governor to look into the matter and arrange for setting up of bank units in border areas with Bhutan for cashless transaction.
The meeting was also addressed by Murlidhar, the tiol coorditor of Seemanta Chet Manch and Gopal Krishn, tiol coorditor of the Manch.