Assam CM unveils major infrastructure, education push for BTC on 24th Bodoland Day celebrations

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, February 10 announced a Rs 1,000-crore financial package for road and bridge construction in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to accelerated infrastructure development in the region. The announcement was made during the grand celebration of the 24th Bodoland Day, also observed as BTC Accord Day, held at Green Field in Kokrajhar.

The Chief Minister attended the event as the chief guest, accompanied by Assam Cabinet Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah and several other dignitaries, senior officials and public representatives.

Addressing the gathering, Sarma also announced the establishment of a Bodoland Guest House in Chennai, aimed at facilitating accommodation and support for people from the BTC region travelling to southern India for education, medical treatment and other purposes.

In another major announcement, the Chief Minister declared financial assistance of ₹2 lakh each for 15,000 students from the BTC region, describing the initiative as a step towards empowering youth and strengthening human capital in Bodoland.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Sarma reiterated that his government had fulfilled every commitment made to the people of Assam. Commenting on the ongoing political controversy involving Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, the Chief Minister said Gogoi had himself admitted to visiting Rawalpindi in Pakistan.

“He himself said that he went to Rawalpindi. What more comment can be added to that? Rawalpindi houses the Pakistan Army headquarters. I did not say it—Gaurav Gogoi said it himself. Now what explanation will he give for a statement he himself made?” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister further stated that allegations against him had been disproved. “Whatever commitment I made to the people of the state, I have honoured it. When I had initially stated that Gaurav Gogoi’s wife is a foreign national, attempts were made to portray me as having lied. Today, I have proved before the people of Assam that in politics, Himanta Biswa Sarma does not speak falsely,” he said.

Sarma added that had he not been challenged publicly, he would not have pursued the matter further, and that the issue would now be dealt with by the Central Government. He also remarked that Gogoi’s admission during a recent press conference of having visited Rawalpindi without a visa had made the situation “far more serious and complex”.