UBPO reiterates demand for Boro Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council

KOKRAJHAR: A mass crying programne demanding formation of Boro Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council (BKWAC) outside BTC was held on Monday evening in various parts of the State under the banner of United Bodo People's Organization (UBPO). The protest programme was organized by the district committees of UBPO in their respective places demanding formation of BKWAC. Several hundreds of supporters of UBPO took part at Simen Chapori in Dhemaji district. In Guwahati, North Guwahati, Golaghat, Sonitpur, Nalbari, Lakhimpur, Dibrugargh and Dhubri also the protest took place.

The protesters shouted slogans against State WPT&BC Minister Chandan Brahma and BPF president Hagrama Mohilary for their alleged role in blocking the BKWAC bill in the assembly session on September 3 due to their political interest. The UBPO expressed their strong resentment and asked the BPF not to interfere in their issues and also warned the BPF not to politicize the demand for BKWAC. Talking to this correspondent, the president of UBPO, Mihiniswar Basumatary said they had protested against the lackadaisical attitude of WPT&BC Minister Chandan Brahma and BPF president Hagrama Mohilary towards creation of BKWAC. He said Boro Kachari people of outside BTC districts had united and resolved to stick to their stand for BKWAC. He said their movement for BKWAC would not succumb to narrow politics of BPF and other parties.

The general secretary of the UBPO, Anil Basumatary said he took part in the mass crying programme at Sonapur in Morigaon.

LAKHIMPUR: The Lakhimpur district committee of United Bodo People's Organization (UBPO) on Monday initiated mass crying programme demanding immediate formation of Boro Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council for the overall welfare of the Bodo people living outside the BTC area. The activists of the organization led by the president and the secretary with the support of common people, staged the agitation programme at the Boginadi Sahitya Bhawan located at Boginadi under Lakhimpur district.

On the other hand, the Jonai regional committee of the organization staged the same stir at Jonai Higher Secondary School Tiniali while shouting various slogans and displaying placards in support of the demand. While staging the protest programme, the protesters expressed vehement resentment against State WPT&BC Minister Chandan Brahma, BPF president Hagrama Mohilary and minister Pramila Rani Brahma for their alleged deliberate attempt to prevent introducing the bill for formation of BKWAC outside BTC. In a statement, UBPO leader Manoranjan Basumatari said that the organization had been demanding the formation of BKWAC for a decade for the welfare of the 10 lakh Boro people living in 21 districts of the State outside BTC.

"The Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government took the decision to form BKWAC in its last cabinet meeting. Then the BJP government, after coming to power, took up the decision to form the council. On the other hand, the point for separate autonomous council for the Boro people living outside the BTC was also incorporated in the third Bodo Peace Accord (BTR) signed in New Delhi among the Union Government, Assam State Government, ABSU, four units of NDFB, UBPO on January 27 in 2020. Seven months later, after the peace accord was inked, the Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP government in Assam attempted to bring the bill in the assembly session on September 2 according to their commitment. But unfortunately, the BPF posed as hurdle in the formation of the council which has been expected for the security of the political, academic, socio-economic and land right of the Boro people living outside the BTC, who have been deprived of their judicious right for years," Manoranjan Basumatari said.

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