Bodo Organizations Write to Amit Shah Demanding a Separate Bodoland

Kokrajhar, August 8, 2019:

Representatives of the following Boro organizations: the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), National Democratic Front of Boroland Progressive NDFB (P), People’s Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM) and people of proposed Bodoland area as a whole, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with a set of demands, including the carving out of a separate Bodoland.

Stating that the creation of Union Territories of Laddakh without a Legislature and Jammu & Kashmir with Legislature was a decision of political convenience, the signatories added that it is also obvious that the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has sufficient majority in both the Houses to create new States/Union Territories.

The Bodo representatives further stated that the basis for creating new States/Union Territories should be to help the local people live safer, happier and more fulfilling lives and urged the Government to create the State of Bodoland in order to protect the identity and culture of the indigenous Bodo people.

The signatories have made the following demands to the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government; firstly, the bringing of a national policy with regard to the issue of settlement of Bodoland state; expedition of the process of dialogue on Bodoland state issue at political level; fulfilment of the BJP’s commitments given in the Election Manifesto in 2014; ensuring political rights to the Bodos living in Assam outside the proposed Bodoland area; and granting of ST Hills Status to the Bodos living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

It is to be mentioned that several indigenous organizations are staging a protest at the Children’s Park near the DC's Office in Kokrajhar district of Assam.

It may be mentioned tha after the Indian Government’s announcement to abrogate Article 370 and 35A and bifurcate Kashmir into two Union Territories, indigenous organizations in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area have intensified their demand for a separate Boroland.

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