Initiate political dialogue on Bodoland state instead of village exclusion: BPNLBS

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Former Lok Sabha MP Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary, who is also leading the All India Bodo People's National League for Bodoland Statehood (BPNLBS) as president, on Wednesday reiterated that the Government of India should start fresh political dialogue for creation of full-fledged separate Bodoland state instead of exclusion of villages from existing geographical boundary of BTC.

He said the people of Bodoland never wanted cutting down of power and functions of BTC created under 6th schedule of the Constitution of India and losing its geographical boundary and they would never compromise on the exclusion of any village from BTC signed on February 10, 2003.

Talking to media persons at Kokrajhar Press Club on Wednesday, Bwiswmuthiary said that as many as 95 people put their signature for filing PIL at Gauhati High Court in the last part of 2021 to challenge some of the clauses of BTR accord which are detrimental for the Bodos in the near future. He said BTR accord was signed on January 27, 2020 between the governments of India and Assam and ABSU, United Bodo People's Organization (UBPO) and four factions of NDFB by keeping Bodo intellectuals and civil society in the dark. The BTC was a dream of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India, and was created under the 6th schedule of the Indian Constitution ensuring protection of the identity, culture, tradition, political rights and economic development of the Bodos. But the new BTR accord had brought down the 6th schedule provisions, power and functions, he said, adding that the 6th schedule administration would be ceased by the State Government in a systematic way. He also said the provisions of the 6th schedule of BTC were being violated and diverted to general administration as the power and functions were being ceased one after another.

Bwiswmuthiary said maximum autonomy was given to BTC but after the BTR accord, the power was reduced and even Deputy Commissioners are involved in looking after the developmental works of the council. He said nothing had happened in the last two years other than transferring existing power and functions of BTC to the hands of the State Government. He said 3,079 villages were included in BTC as per accord and 95 more villages were supposed to be included but instead of doing this, many villages are going to be excluded after the BTR accord.

"We have no objection in inclusion of more villages of Sonitpur and Biswanath, release of NDFB founder and signatory Ranjan Daimary from jail and rehabilitation of NDFB members," he said adding that they had objections on exclusion of existing villages of BTC, turning down of power and functions and violation of 6th schedule provisions. He reiterated that a section of people, particularly the ABSU, was indulging in political conspiracy and misleading the people of the BTC region.

The former MP said they had fundamental rights of freedom of expression but their rights were being denied by the student body and their effigies were being burnt down in every nook and corner. He said the burning of effigies of Bodo intellectuals like Dr. Dinanath Basumatary, vice-president of Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Dr. Mangalsing Hazoary, Sahitya Akademi awardee Rajen Basumatary, president of Bodo Writers' Academy and movement leaders were not only unfortunate but also insulting. He called upon the ABSU activists to stop intervention on freedom of expression.

Also Read:  Bodoland Territorial Council Legislative Assembly Session on March 29

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