Resolve the long pending demand of Bodoland state immediately: Bodo Movement Groups

Kokrajhar: Expressing deep concern about the lackadaisical and double standard attitude of the Government of India towards resolving the long-standing demand for creation of Bodoland state, the Bodo Movement groups ABSU, NDFB (P), PJACBM, and NDFB launched a rally in Kokrajhar “Rally for Protection and Justice” on Monday.

The demand for creating Bodoland state in the northern part of the Brahmaputra curving out from Assam as per the Article 2 & 3 of the constitution of India has been going on for the last fifty-two years.

The state and the union governments though having series of dialogue with the Bodo leadership is apparently seemed to be holding dialogue only for the ‘sake of mere discussion’ like a game of duck and drake just to dupe the counterparts without having any political willingness, pragmatic step and clear-cut policy-decision to resolve the issue.

The Bodo Movement groups in a press statement also mentioned that the Bodo movement groups had tried their best to remind the BJP leadership about their verbal as well as written commitment (Election Manifesto of 2014) that they would resolve the Bodo problem immediately if they would be voted to form a government in Delhi. We are surprised that the BJP government had totally forgotten their promises which we, therefore, condemn this act of their treachery.

The BJP leadership instead of fulfilling the Bodoland State has heavily bull-dodged on the existing ST communities of Assam by bringing an unexpected bill to grant ST status to 6 communities in the state.

The Bill is a serious threat to the very existence of the existing ST communities of Assam and if the Bill is passed and made an Act the existing STs will be totally crushed down socially, politically and economically.

Despite of being turned down for as many as 8 times by the RGI as well as the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes not having the criteria to fulfill for being recognized as ST the BJP government has adamantly all set to grant ST to those communities, the Bodo movement groups claimed today.

The ulterior motive behind the bill is purely politically motivated, i. e. to harvest the 1.5 crore votes but not the intention of socio-economic development of the concerned communities. How can the advanced communities with a large number of population and the migrant people who do not fulfill the criteria for being ST be granted ST status? The bill is completely unconstitutional, illegal, discriminatory and unjustified. The organizations of the existing ST will keep continuing its strong protest with tooth and nail against this draconian bill.

The Joint Bodoland Movement Groups demanded an immediate solution of their long pending demand of Bodoland state, they also urged the Government to ensure political & Land Rights to the Bodos living outside of the proposed Bodoland and claimed ST (Hills) Status to the Bodos of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

Furthermore, the Bodo movement groups also appealed the Government to stop exploitation, oppression, domination and discrimination on the existing 14 ST communities of Assam.

Also, urged to revoke the bill of the present form for granting ST status to 6 more advance and populous communities of Assam.

The Joint Movement Group also appealed for series of vigorous agitation programs in the days to come to protest against the Lackadaisical and double standard attitude of the Government.