BTR Peace Accord signatory slams Himanta’s ‘first, second-class citizens’ remark

Reacting strongly to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent remark during a Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election campaign, MLA and BTR Peace Accord signatory Lawrence Islary said the Indian Constitution makes no distinction between first and second-class citizens, and warned against divisive rhetoric.
 

The Chief Minister, while addressing rallies across BTC constituencies, reportedly said there should not be “first and second-class citizens” in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) — a statement that drew criticism from local leaders.

Islary, a key negotiator of the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord, stressed that after years of unrest, the region’s 26 ethnic communities are working towards unity and stability. “We have worked hard to build mutual trust among indigenous communities. Now is not the time to sow division. Political parties must avoid provocative or misleading statements during campaigns,” he said.

He appealed to all political leaders to honour the spirit of the peace accord and support efforts for an inclusive Bodoland.

The BTR, once plagued by insurgency and ethnic conflict, has seen relative peace since the accord brought Bodo factions into the mainstream, granting the region greater autonomy and development prospects. With BTC polls nearing, political rhetoric has heated up, but leaders like Islary are calling for restraint to safeguard social harmony and constitutional values.