The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) authority is very concerned with the political rights of the every non Bodo community residing in the BTC area.
However the population in BTC is very large compared to its present number of Council of Constituencies.
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BTC has recorded a population of 32 lakhs which is higher than any other tribal autonomous bodies or states of the North-east except Tripura with 38 lakhs.
So there is a need for increase in number of the Council of Constituencies.
This was viewed by BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary on Monday.
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“We have already taken a Cabinet decision to increase the number of constituencies from the present figure of forty to sixty or more. So that there are more political reservations of seats for different non-Bodo communities of BTC and ensure more political rights for them in future. AASU, AASA, Bengali Students Federation and different non-Bodo organizations while discussing it has consented to offer their cooperation,” said BTC chief and president of Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), Hagrama Mohilary.
He was addressing a rally on Monday at Khoirabari in Bhergaon sub-division in Udalguri district organized in connection with the open session of the three-day 4th triennial conference of BPF, Bhergaon district committee.
The BTC chief further stated, “The BTC is within the state of Assam, an integral part of Assam and shall always remain within Assam. The overall development of the state will be complete only if the pace of the development activities in the four districts of the BTAD, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts can be expedited along with other districts of Assam.”
He also made it clear that the functioning of the administration and governance in the BTC is based on the rules and acts enacted by the Government of India and Assam Government and the BTC has no authority to enact new land policy and as per the existing rules and regulations the BTC has been functioning with the 40 transferred departments.
Moreover Mohilary mentioned that as per the discussion with Asom Sahitya Sabha, the BTC has already decided to establish four language research centres in four districts of the BTAD.
Similarly as per the request of the general secretary of ULFA Anup Chetia, the BTC has also decided to sanction an amount of Rs one lakh each to the next of kin of the ‘martyrs’ of ULFA living in the areas of the BTAD.
With a view to take the feedback, suggestions and opinion on the functioning of the BTC government from all section of the society living in the BTAD areas, he himself would attend public interactive meetings in different places of the BTAD and he requested all to attend such citizens’ committee meetings with suggestions and opinions only to strengthen the functioning of the BTC government with the inputs.
Regarding the problems related to the land revenue matters of the BTC being faced by the people living in the BTAD areas, the BTC chief has also decided to organize meetings at every revenue circles of the BTAD inviting all organizations and leading citizens where he would personally interact with the citizens.
Addressing the rally Rajya Sabha MP and secretary of BPF, Biswajit Daimary made it clear that Assamese language shall always be given due respect and honour in the BTC and termed the Assamese language as the ‘lingua franca’ not only for Assam but also for entire north-eastern region and without Assamese language, no tribes or ethnic groups living in the BTAD would be able to make communication among themselves.
The rally was also attended by several leaders of BPF including executive members Jagadish Sarkar and Banjar Daimary; Panery legislator Kamali Basumatary; Mazbat MLA Charan Boro; president of the BPF Central Women Wing, Supriya Roy Brahma, among others.