'BTR will witness more progress' Says Home Minister Amit Shah

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday assured the people of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) that it would be a far more progressing region through comprehensive development.

Addressing the mega opening ceremony of the first 'BTR Accord Day' at Green Field, BodofaNwgwr here on Sunday, the Union Home Minister said that the BTR will move forward to new heights of development.

Recalling the sacrifices made by more than 5,000 Bodos for the cause of Bodoland, Shah said that the people of the region will see the new Bodoland through the 'AthmaNirbhar' push. Pointing out that at one point of time there had been a play of divisive politics to cause rifts among the Bodos and the non-Bodos, Shah stressed that now there is no more communal division as all the people referred to as 'Bodos' and 'non-Bodos' are from the same soil and all communities will be ensured equal development.

Shah also said that the Government of India under Prime Minister NarendraModi will protect and develop the Bodo language and culture as part of its 'SabkaSaath, SabkaVikash' and 'AtmaBiswas'.

He also said that the Government of Assam led by SarbanandaSonowal has been taking forward Assam — including BTR — to new heights in all spheres. He also lauded Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for releasing Rs 500 crore exclusively to BTR for the development of road networking. He added that the government will implement all clauses of the BTR Accord. He also said that for development of the BoroKachari community living across Assam outside the BTR, the government has formed the 'BoroKachari Welfare Autonomous Council' (BKWAC).

Hailing the return of total peace in BTR, Shah said that peace has prevailed also in Jammu & Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. He further said that the distribution of the Government of India rehabilitation package of Rs 4 lakh to each of the NDFB cadres who have come overground has already begun. He also spoke about the various welfare schemes taken up by BJP government for the public and the underprivileged people.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister SarbanandaSonowal said that the BTR Accord had brought peace and integrity among all sections of people. He also said that the PramodBoro-led BTR government will ensure equal rights, development and justice besides solving the problems of all communities.

Minister of Finance, PWD, Health etc., DrHimantaBiswaSarma said that the government is sincere about implementing all the clauses of the BTR Accord. He further said that for the development of road infrastructure in BTR, he has released an amount of Rs 500 crore, adding that various institutions mentioned in the Accord will be set up in every BTR district one after the other very soon.

BTR chief PramodBoro said that the armed struggle of the region had come to an end and peace has prevailed in BTR after the Accord. He also said that they have full faith on the NDA government at the Centre as both the BTC Accord in 2003 and the BTR Accord in 2020 were signed during their regime. Stating that many leaders from the Centre had come to the BTC and returned on earlier occasions but there was no effective change and comprehensive policy, he added that the BJP-led NDA government has brought about many positive changes in the region.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were BJP national vice president V. Panda, State BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass, MPs PallavLachan Das and Naba Kumar Sarania, MLA Ashok Singhal, Chief Secretary JishnuBaruah, DGP BhaskarJyotiMahanta, former RajyaSabha MPs U.G. Brahma and BiswajitDaimary, ABSU president DipenBoro and UBPO president MihiniswarBasumatary. Earlier, the Principal Secretary of BTC Siddarth Singh rendered the welcome speech.

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