Assam: Non-Bodo group urges multilingual government orders, notices for non-Bodo residents in BTR

In a press conference held on Saturday, April 13, Jon Das, Secretary of the Oboro Suraksha Samiti, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Assam Government's directive to issue all official notices and orders solely in the Bodo language within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

Das questioned the exclusivity of the move, emphasizing the diverse demographic makeup of the region. “Is BTR inhabited only by Bodo people?” he asked, addressing his concern directly to Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma.

He argued that if government notifications and directives are issued only in the Bodo language, it will alienate and confuse the large non-Bodo population residing in the region, who may not understand the language.

Calling the move discriminatory and impractical, Das urged the state government to issue official documents in Assamese and English alongside Bodo to ensure accessibility, inclusivity, and equal treatment of all communities in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area.

“This is not merely a request but a demand for the welfare of all ethnic groups in the region,” he added.