Tribal Reserved Seats Will Go In Hands of Non-Protected Class, Fears BJSM

KOKRAJHAR: The Bodoland Janajati Suraksha Mancha (BJSM) on Saturday expressed fear that the tribal reserved seats could go in to the hands of the non-tribal and non-protected class of people if the Bodo movement leaders were not careful. The Mancha also cited an example where reserved tribal seats were being grabbed by non-notified, non-tribal people in assembly and council election.

The president of the BJSM, Janaklal Basumatary said, “Bodoland movement is misdirected when the constitutional safeguard of political rights of the Bodos are gifted to non-Bodo and non-tribal communities by the political leaders. The only tribal reserved Kokrajhar Lok Sobha constituency is cornered by non-Bodo, non-tribal representative who has been given Bodo status by the leaders of the Bodos illegally.”

Basumatary said the voice of the divisive forces would become stronger as they were claiming majority although most of them were illegal settlers in tribal belts and blocks and now in BTC 6th schedule area. “Unless you protect your tribal land and tribal political right, your cause of Bodoland will weaken and the illegal settlers will have a louder voice. So take care first to protect your constitutional land and political rights in reserved constituency. Do not gift your rights to other non-notified community, otherwise they will destroy your rights,” he said.

Basumatary said MP Naba Sarania was getting all votes of non-Boros and non-tribals because he was from the non-Boro, non-tribal community. “He is representative of non-Boro, non-tribal communities in tribal reserved constituency. Bodo tribals are deprived of their only one reserved MP constituency. This is indeed a great setback for the Boroland movement,” he said, adding that it was not an isolated case. He said every Boroland movement leader should be careful so that no non-notified community got tribal certificate in the disguise of another community as now the government was illegally giving orders to issue ST certificates to the non-notified Sarania Kachari community.

The tribal leader, who was former IRS, said land policy was already existent in 10th chapter of Assam Land and Land Revenue Regulation Act, 1886 as amended in 1947 with creation of tribal belt and block area and action plan taken for protection of such land for exclusive use of tribal people’s benefit. “No non-tribal or immigrant or refugee should be allowed to settle in this area. If somebody is found illegally settled, he should be evicted forthwith. But illegal non-tribals are allowed to encroach tribal reserved land and even settle down by political leaders with vested interests,” he said.

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