Ex-NDFB men supporting BPF persecuted by BJP-UPPL: Hagrama Mohilary

KOKRAJHAR: Hagrama Mohilary, the supremo of the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), today claimed that former cadres of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) who are supporting his party are being persecuted by the Promod Boro-led government.

 

Claiming that Boro's government has initiated a 'witch hunt' against his supporters, Hagrama said, "No BPF workers can enter their houses. All the NDFB cadres who are backing the BPF have received warrants, while those that have thrown their weight behind the BJP are roaming freely in plain view of society."

 

It needs mention here that several former militants of the outfit, including NDFB-S chief B Saoraigwra, had joined the BPF party ahead of the polls. NDFB founder Ranjan Daimary's sister, Anjali, had also joined the party in the lead-up to the polls.

 

Although the party emerged as the single-party at the end of the polling, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was able to stitch crucial alliances with the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) and the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) led by Naba Sarania.

 

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Hagrama's comments come against the backdrop of reports of former militants -- including the dreaded militant M Batha -- returning to the jungles. Several cadres of the outfit, who came overground following the signing of the tripartite Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) pact with the government, have shown "disillusionment" regarding the same.

 

Hagrama, who was speaking to scribes on the sidelines of the party's CWC, further predicted that the UPPL-BJP-GSP alliance government would not last long in the state.

 

"In all probability, this government will fold up very soon," Mohilary, who has been challenging the Promod Boro-led regime ever since its swearing-in, said. Promod Boro also managed to pass a floor test ordered by the Gauhati High Court after Hagrama had challenged the legitimacy of Boro's appointment as CEM.

 

"In the present scenario," Mohilary said, "It is very unlikely that the BPF will rekindle its alliance with the BJP party. It is because of their ill-treatment towards us ever since riding to power in the BTC backed by allies."