The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), People’s Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement (PJACBM) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland-Progressive (NDFB-P) have asked the Central government to hold tripartite dialogue in the political level before April 26, 2018 for early solution to the separate Bodoland State issue.
In a joint press conference at the Bodofa House, Kokrajhar, addressed by ABSU President Pramod Boro, NDFB (P) General Secretary Gobinda Ch Basumatari and PJACBM Chief Convenor Rakesh Boro, the media persons were told that if the government fails to hold tripartite dialogue at the political level to ensure the political rights of the Bodos living in Assam outside the proposed Bodoland before April 26, 2018, then ‘April 26, 2018’ would be observed as the ‘Betrayal Day.
The three leading Bodo organizations also demanded grant of Schedule Tribe Hills (ST-H) status to the Bodos living in Karbi Anglong in Assam.
If the government fails to fulfil their demand for the political dialogue on their issues, the ABSU, NDFB(P) and PJACBM would also organise a five-day National Highway blockade from May 2, 2018 onwards and will organise a 36-hour Chakka bandh, the leaders of the organizations told the media.
While welcoming the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju’s recent statement in a press conference that the Government of India had chalked out problems with the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (pro-talk ULFA) and would sign a peace agreement at any moment, the leaders of the three Bodo organizations stated, “We welcome the move and have nothing to say against it. At the same time he made a dubious and distorting statement that NDFB having factions were not in unanimity to each other in regards to their demands for which it might not be possible to bring early solution to their case.”
Stating that Rijiju’s statement is ‘an out and out lie’ as “no formal talk is being held with the NDFB of DR Nabla group”, they said, “Whatever tripartite talk is being held so far is only with the NDFB (P).” They questioned, “How could Rijiju say that there is difference of opinion and demands of different factions of the NDFB without holding tripartite talk with both? His statement is false, baseless and without substance. It was nothing but a ploy to hoodwink the people of their failure and unwillingness to resolve the longstanding demand for creating Bodoland state.”
The Bodo organisations’ leaders also said Rijiju being a Minister of Cabinet rank has “utterly failed to fulfill the people’s aspiration of the Northeast”.
They also stated that a few days back Hansraj Ahir, another Union Minister of State for Home in his reply to a question in the Parliament stated that new State was created only when the mother State is willing and there is a unanimous decision on the issue. “His statement has proved that Ahir is totally ignorant of the history as to how the States have been created in India from time to time. In most cases, States were created forcibly by the Union government but not by the will of State government because no State is willing let off its part,” they said.
The Bodo leaders also said, “The statements of both the Ministers of State for Home are desperate attempts to divert the people’s attention from their election commitment. The false and baseless statements of both Rijiju and Ahir are deplored with distaste and we condemn that.”
