GUWAHATI, Jan 30 - Success of the third Bodo Accord signed on January 27 will depend entirely on the sincerity of the Government and all the stakeholders. This was the observation of the All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU), which is also a signatory to the Accord.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, president of the ABSU, Promode Boro said that the students� body is optimistic about the success of the Accord and expressed the view that the Central and State Governments should play their parts for the success of the Accord. He said that both the Governments should ensure that the Accord is implemented within a specific time frame. On their part, all the Bodo organizations should also concentrate more on the implementation of the accord than grabbing power, he added.
Replying to a question on whether the ABSU has formally given up the demand for the creation of a separate state of Bodoland, Boro said that the students� body would announce its decision shortly. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to visit Kokrajhar to address a public rally on February 7. The general body meeting of the ABSU will be held within a few days of that date to finalize whether the ABSU would formally give up the demand or suspend it.
It may be mentioned here that the ABSU first raised the demand for a separate state in 1987 and suspended it after the signing of an Accord in 1993. The students� body revived the demand again in 1996 and suspended it after the signing of a peace pact between the Government and militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tiger. The ABSU revived the demand for separate state again in 2010.
�Boro alleged that certain people were trying to create apprehension in the minds of the non Bodo people living in the BTC area. He said that all sections of people should read the accord thoroughly before giving comments that can lead to difference of opinion among different communities of people.
With the Bodo political problem solved at least for the time being, the ABSU would now concentrate on the issues concerning the students including employment. Boro said that in the past also, successive state Governments had promised to create a separate directorate for Bodo medium schools and the same promise has been made in the Accord signed on January 27. He hoped that the State Government would create a separate directorate for Bodo medium schools within three months to start the process of solving the problems of the students studying in Bodo medium schools.
