GUWAHATI, Nov 1 � In what could mark a new beginning in the State political scene, the Deputy Chief of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Khampa Borgoyari, today met the chairman of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), Ranjan Daimary, in Nagaon jail in an attempt to reduce the differences among different Bodo groups. Senior leaders of different other Bodo organizations including vice-president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha Bisheswar Basumatary, president of the Bodo Samaj Rajen Boro, vice-president of the UDPF Pradeep Daimary and president of the Bodo People�s Forum for Peace Initiative Dr Bijoy Daimary were also present during the hour-long meeting.
The BTC deputy chief, who was the publicity secretary of militant group Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), which was disbanded following the signing of peace accord in 2003, spoke to the NDFB chief after more than a decade as the last meeting between the NDFB and BLT was held in Shillong in 1999.
Talking to The Assam Tribune after the meeting, Borgoyari, who is also the spokesman of the Bodo People�s Front (BPF), said that the basic aim of the meeting was to bring an end to the contradictions and conflicts among different Bodo organizations and groups so that the fratricidal clashes come to an end. He said that the BPF has been trying to bring all the Bodo groups closer to ensure restoration of permanent peace in the BTC area and hoped that today�s meeting would go a long way in achieving the goal.
Borgoyari said that in the meeting, he appealed to Ranjan Daimary alias DR Nabla to bring an end to the conflicts among the Bodo groups. �We requested him to play a major role in bringing an end to the conflicts. We have told him that the Bodo society wants an end to armed struggles and all sections of people are of the view that the political issues should be solved through discussions,� he added.
The BTC deputy chief revealed that during the talks, Daimary made it clear that he was never against talks for political solution of the problems. But at the same time, Daimary made it clear that it would not be possible for him to talk to the Government from the jail and a congenial atmosphere must be created for fruitful talks. He also said that the Government must give due respect to all organizations for talks, Borgoyari added.
The BPF is organizing a Bodo National Convention in Kokrajhar on November 11 and 12 and commenting on the move, Borgoyari said that the main aim is to evolve ways for solution of the political problems of the Bodo community. He said that the convention would also deal with economic issues and other social problems for all-round development of the Bodo community. He clarified that the aim of the convention is not to bring all the Bodo political parties and organizations on a common platform but to evolve ways to find solution to the political and social problems.
Replying to a question on whether the BPF, an alliance partner of the Congress in the State, supports the demand for creation of a separate state of Bodoland, Borgoyari said that the issue would be discussed in the convention. �The participants in the convention would discuss whether there is need for the creation of a separate state and only then we shall take a stand on the issue,� he added.
All Bodo political parties and organizations including the Bodoland People�s Progressive Front (BPPF) , All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU), pro-talk faction of the NDFB, etc., have been invited to participate in the convention.
GUWAHATI, Nov 1 � In what could mark a new beginning in the State political scene, the Deputy Chief of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Khampa Borgoyari, today met the chairman of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), Ranjan Daimary, in Nagaon jail in an attempt to reduce the differences among different Bodo groups. Senior leaders of different other Bodo organizations including vice-president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha Bisheswar Basumatary, president of the Bodo Samaj Rajen Boro, vice-president of the UDPF Pradeep Daimary and president of the Bodo People�s Forum for Peace Initiative Dr Bijoy Daimary were also present during the hour-long meeting.
The BTC deputy chief, who was the publicity secretary of militant group Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), which was disbanded following the signing of peace accord in 2003, spoke to the NDFB chief after more than a decade as the last meeting between the NDFB and BLT was held in Shillong in 1999.
Talking to The Assam Tribune after the meeting, Borgoyari, who is also the spokesman of the Bodo People�s Front (BPF), said that the basic aim of the meeting was to bring an end to the contradictions and conflicts among different Bodo organizations and groups so that the fratricidal clashes come to an end. He said that the BPF has been trying to bring all the Bodo groups closer to ensure restoration of permanent peace in the BTC area and hoped that today�s meeting would go a long way in achieving the goal.
Borgoyari said that in the meeting, he appealed to Ranjan Daimary alias DR Nabla to bring an end to the conflicts among the Bodo groups. �We requested him to play a major role in bringing an end to the conflicts. We have told him that the Bodo society wants an end to armed struggles and all sections of people are of the view that the political issues should be solved through discussions,� he added.
The BTC deputy chief revealed that during the talks, Daimary made it clear that he was never against talks for political solution of the problems. But at the same time, Daimary made it clear that it would not be possible for him to talk to the Government from the jail and a congenial atmosphere must be created for fruitful talks. He also said that the Government must give due respect to all organizations for talks, Borgoyari added.
The BPF is organizing a Bodo National Convention in Kokrajhar on November 11 and 12 and commenting on the move, Borgoyari said that the main aim is to evolve ways for solution of the political problems of the Bodo community. He said that the convention would also deal with economic issues and other social problems for all-round development of the Bodo community. He clarified that the aim of the convention is not to bring all the Bodo political parties and organizations on a common platform but to evolve ways to find solution to the political and social problems.
Replying to a question on whether the BPF, an alliance partner of the Congress in the State, supports the demand for creation of a separate state of Bodoland, Borgoyari said that the issue would be discussed in the convention. �The participants in the convention would discuss whether there is need for the creation of a separate state and only then we shall take a stand on the issue,� he added.
All Bodo political parties and organizations including the Bodoland People�s Progressive Front (BPPF) , All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU), pro-talk faction of the NDFB, etc., have been invited to participate in the convention.
