ABSU urges people to be cautious against 'false propaganda' on BTR accord

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) on Friday called upon the people to be cautious against the false propaganda being carried out by dubious and vested circles in the region which creates confusion among the common masses.

In a press meet held at Bodofa House, Kokrajhar, the president of the ABSU, DipenBoro said that false propaganda and rumours on the BTR accord, land rights to non-tribals and against the ABSU to divert common people's mind from rampant corruption, dictatorship and failure to give good governance in the 17 years of rule in BTC were doing the round. He said that the ABSU always stood for peace, good governance, equal justice and land rights to all communities in BTR. He expressed deep concern over the ongoing false propaganda and rumour published by some vested interest of political parties, politicians and political representatives during their election campaign on the land rights of the non-tribal and non-Bodo people living in erstwhile BTC and now in BTR.

"The ABSU strongly condemns all the ill motives and evil designs and clarifies its stand on the MoS of BTR," he said. He added that as per clause 7.1, the Government of Assam could consider enacting a special legislation to provide adequate safeguard to land rights of STs living outside tribal belts and blocks in areas outside BTC and as per 7.2, the Government of Assam would take effective measures to protect 'khas' land, 'grazing' land and water bodies from illegal encroachment. He said that the land rights of non-tribal in erstwhile BTC and now in BTR would remain same without any impact and effect as per clause 4.3 of the BTC Accord that provides safeguard for the settlement rights, transfer and inheritance of property of non-tribals which would be suitably incorporated in para 3 of the Sixth Schedule. He also said that any such law made by the BTC in this regard would not harm the rights and privileges enjoyed by any citizen of India.

Boro said the amendments to the Sixth Schedule would be in such a manner that non-tribals were not disadvantaged in relation to the rights enjoyed by them at the commencement of BTC and their rights and privileges, including land rights, are fully protected. "Land rights of all the communities of tribal and non-tribal residing in BTR will be equally protected and enjoyed as per the above clause of amended sixth schedule without any hindrance. None of us need to fear and feel insecure or unsafe with regard to land right because BTR is an arrangement within the State of Assam and India under the Constitution of India," he said, adding that the BTR accord signed on January 27, 2020 was an exemplary accord which brought peace and ended the arms revolution and democratic movement of Bodo movement organizations like ABSU, NDFB and UBPO for the interest of the people of BTR.

"BTR arrangement is not specified for single community, it is a far better arrangement with equal rights and development for all communities living in BTR of tribal and non-tribals and reservation to all. The blame game of the former BTC chief against ABSU is politically motivated and disgusting," he said, adding that the ABSU was a non-political, students' union with its own constitution. It is clearly written in its Constitution 3 (f) that ABSU can 'tackle and settle the political issues if and when the existence of the Bodo people is threatened, though the ABSU is a non-political organisation', he said.

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