Democracy being violated in BTC: Hagrama Mohilary

KOKRAJHAR: The president of Bodoland People's Front (BPF), Hagrama Mohilary on Tuesday reiterated that democracy was being violated in BTC. Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a protest rally of the Youth Wing BPF and Bodoland Students' Union (BSU) demanding early election to BTC at Kokrakhar, Mohilary said the democracy was made a mockery in BTC as the State Government was reluctant to hold the 4th BTC election on the pretext of coronavirus pandemic. He said the panchayat elections in Rajasthan had been held although there was pandemic and assembly election in Bihar assembly had been fixed. But the Government of Assam had made the BTC poll uncertain under the pretext of the pandemic.

Mohilary said that Governor's Rule in BTC would come to an end on October 27 and therefore, the council election should be held within October. He said that elected government was very important in a democratic country for the development of the people of the region but due to deferment of election, all the development activities in BTC had been halted. He also said that the Government of Assam should hold BTC election before expiry of Governor's Rule and the demanded that the Governor's Rule must not be extended.

The BPF president said the BPF was compelled to take out a series of protest programmes against the apathy of the State Government towards BTC election. He said various wings of the BPF had started series of protest programmes since September 28 and these would continue unless the council election was held on time. He also warned that the future course of action of the BPF would be announced on October 2 during observation of hunger strike.

Meanwhile, the Youth Wing BPF took out a rally in Kokrajhar town on Tuesday from central office of BPF to DC office via Jwhwlao Dwimalu Road and submitted memorandum to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal demanding BTC election within October 27 and to stop further extension of Governor's Rule.

The protest rally by BPF Youth Wing and BSU was held in Kokrajhar, Gossaigaon, Porbhatjhora, Kajalgaon and Bijni. Over a hundred supporters joined the rally in Kokrajhar.

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