OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR: Since the 4th BTC election is hanging in balance due to COVID-19 pandemic and the council being subsequently run by the Governor since April 27 last, the mud-slinging among the leaders and supporters as well as debate on BTR accord in web portals and social media has turned uglier. The series of debates on BTR Accord by Bodo intellectuals have confused the common people on the credibility of 3rd Bodo accord. The mushrooming web portals are bringing up interviews of Bodo intellectuals on regular manner and flooding the social media but it is clear that most of their views are inclined to their favourite party. It is crystal clear that two Bodo groups are trading charges between each other on BTR Accord-pro UPPL supporters view the BTR Accord as comprehensive while pro-BPF supporters discard the accord as faulty. Among many Bodo intellectuals, Hira Charan Narzinary of West Bengal who is also the vice president of World Bodo Historical Society extended his view on the BTR accord after thorough study of clauses of the accord. Narzinary viewed that keeping the territorial integrity of the State of Assam intact and not entertaining the demand for either a separate state, or a UT, the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed by ABSU, four factions of NDFB and UBPO and the Government of India and Government of Assam on 27 January, 2020.
He observed that debates on the merits and demerits of the accord were raging in the social media. "One section is lauding the accord while another section is vehemently criticizing the accord. Some are calling this accord as 'BTR Accord' while some are calling it 'Bodo Peace Accord'. Some are saying this accord is a milestone while some are saying we have got a Region which is worth the name. Some are saying nothing is there in the BTR accord and some are saying BTR Accord is far better than BTC Accord," he said adding that the according to clause 3.3 of the MoS, it was agreed that the existing BTAD will be renamed as BTR comprising area covered under BTC.