After Telangana Congress eyes Bodoland in Assam

Demanding immediate carving out of a separate state of Bodoland from Assam on the lines of Telengana, several pro Bodoland groups have threatened to intensify their protests—including a 1000 hour rail blockade in the state, even as the Centre has formed a one man committee headed by former home secretary GK Pillai to study the feasibility of a separate Bodoland state.

Pillai, who arrived today in Assam amidst protest, will be submitting his report within 9 months.

Adamant on their demand, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), which is spearheading the movement gave the present government time till the end of the term of this government, and also rejected the committee, saying though the Justice Srikrishna Committee was constituted to study the demand for Telangana, the Government decided to create the new state without referring to the report of the committee.

“The report of the Group of Ministers and the Cabinet decision on the creation of Telangana did not mention anything about the report of the committee,” said ABSU president Promod Boro.

Boro also said that his organization and all the other prominent parties and the organizations who are battling for a separate Bodoland state will not extend any cooperation to the committee, and also said that it is nothing but a poll-gimmick ahead of the Lok sabha election.

The ABSU president further argued that there was no reason for constitution of an expert committee for studying the political or economic viability of Bodoland as smaller states depending entirely on Central funds had been created in the past

“We have suspended our agitation temporarily because of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary (HS) examinations, and we would resume our movement immediately after the examinations are over if the elections are not announced by that time,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Abodo Suraksha Samiti (ASS), which is an umbrella organization comprising people of the non-Bodo community and which is totally opposed to the creation of Bodoland, have said that they will oppose any further division of the state, and have also rejected the formation of the committee to study the viability of a separate state of Bodoland.

The organization has also threatened to launch a series of intense protests if the government takes up any step regarding division of the state.

“There are lakhs of people who don’t belong to the Bodo community and are living in the area in which the proposed Bodoland state falls, and in several areas they outnumber the Bodo population. So, we completely oppose the creation of Bodoland,” said Jugeswar Kalita of the Abodo Suraksha Samiti.

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, when approached, said that the government is sincere on the issue and so has formed the committee.

He however didn’t reply when asked if he supports further division of the state.

Meanwhile, in the Assam bandh which was called yesterday by the ASS protesting the committee headed by Pillai, several long distance trains were disrupted and vehicles burnt.

The chief minister, warning all the protestors have said that, such acts will not be tolerated.