Kokrajhar MP Naba Kumar Sarania supports Bodo pact, but seeks review 

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Kokrajhar MP Naba Kumar Sarania has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and extended his support for the solution to the problems of the Bodos, but with a rider – the solution to the problems of the Bodos should not hamper the rights and interests of the non-Bodos living in the proposed BTR (Bodo Territorial Region).

The MP met the Prime Minister at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport on Friday and handed over a letter supporting the peaceful solution to the struggle of the Bodos for a separate State. He, however, made it clear before the Prime Minister that at the same time the problems and grievances of the 70 per cent non-Bodo population in the proposed BTR should also be solved.

The MP, on behalf of the Sanmilita Janagosthiya Aikya Mancha (SJAM), said, “I would like to request you to make an arrangement for an amicable dialogue of the SJAM with Union Home Minister Amit Shah within 20 days on the issue of the non-Bodos.” He also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister from the SJAM.

Talking to the media later in the day in Guwahati, Sarania said, “The State government has called us for talks on February 12 to address our grievances. At the parleys it will be crystal clear as to what issues we’ll have to raise with Dispur and what with New Delhi. I hope, the Centre will invite us for talks soon. We’ll support solution to the problems of the Bodos but that shouldn’t hamper the rights and interests of the non-Bodos living in the region.”

The memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister by the SJAM raised the demand for a review of the BTR Agreement by enacting a special law to ascertain all kinds of land rights to non-tribal/non-Bodo people, inclusion of representatives of the non-Bodo organizations along with Kokrajhar MP in the joint monitoring committee and the Agreement should also include the kin of the non-tribal/ non-Bodo people who had lost their lives in the Bodo movement, as beneficiaries.

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