UBPO launches scathing attack on BPF for 'deferring' BKWAC Bill

KOKRAJHAR: In a big blow to Bodoland People's Front (BPF) over the Bill for creation of Boro Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council (BKWAC), the activists and supporters of United Bodo People's Organization (UBPO) on Wednesday staged strong protest in different districts outside BTC.

The protesters also burnt effigies of BPF president Hagrama Mohilary, WPT&BC Minister Chandan Brahma and State Social Welfare and Soil Conservation Minister Pramila Rani Brahma for their alleged reluctant attitude to bring the BKWAC bill to the table in the ongoing assembly session. They shouted slogans against the BPF and Bodo ministers for their anti-BKWAC bill approach and warned that they would give a befitting reply in the ensuing assembly election in 2021.

Talking to this correspondent, the president of UBPO, Mihiniswar Basumatary said he was totally disappointed with the role of WPT&BC Minister Chandan Brahma who did not prepare the bill despite Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and State Finance Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma's assurance to them to introduce the bill for creation of BKWAC in the ongoing assembly session. He said that the hopes and aspirations of Boro Kachari people living outside BTC had been doomed.

In a statement, the general secretary of the UBPO, Anil Basumatary said the State Government was ready to introduce the BKWAC bill in the ongoing session and both Sonowal and Sarma had made it clear to them. But surprisingly, WPT&BC Minister Chandan Brahma had not prepared the procedure due to reasons best known to him. He said that as part of the BTR accord, the BKWAC should have been created for over 10 lakh Boro Kachari people living outside BTC by bringing the requisite bill but minister Chandan Brahma had systematically deferred it.

Most of the district committee leaders warned that the BPF was playing cheap politics over formation of BKWAC. They warned that they would decide their future course of action by discussing with 22 district committees and said that they would support the parties which extend support towards creation of BKWAC in the next assembly election.

Political thinkers opined that BPF could politically lose if the bill for creation of BKWAC was passed and the commission for inclusion of more villages to BTR from Sonitpur and Biswanath was set up before the BTC election. This could be the reason for the delay in introducing the bill.

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