KOKRAJHAR, Feb 10 - Chief Minister Assam Sarbananda Sonowal today reiterated that passing of CAB-2016 is in no way going to pose any threat to the indigenous people of Assam.
Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion of the 17th Bodoland Accord Day here at Green Field near the Bodoland Secretariat in Kokrajhar, he also said that a section of leaders are engaged in misinforming people through wrong propaganda to malign the government and the BJP at large, which is counterproductive to development of the State. He said that the people of Assam have now largely understood the reality which the Prime Minister also clarified yesterday and there will be no problem for the indigenous people.
He also stated that the Central government is keen to grant ST status to six new communities. The Union Home Minister also recently clarified in the Parliament that this is not going to affect the rights of the existing ST communities in the state of Assam, hence there is no point in creating provocation in this regard, he asserted.
At the same time, he recalled enormous contributions and sacrifice of Bodofa UN Brahma and said that the government is considering to declare a State-level award in the name of Bodofa. He also categorically pointed out that under the able leadership of BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary following the Bodo Accord 2003, large-scale development took place in this region and many more projects are in the pipeline. He highly appreciated the Prime Minister for sanctioning a large number of projects for Assam and the NE region.
Speaking on the occasion, BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary greeted all communities living in the BTAD area for their extensive support to Bodo Accord and governance by the BTC administration so far. At the same time, he mentioned that it is because of the BJP-led government, that development and progress in this region has gained strong momentum for which he thanked the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Assam for their whole-hearted support and cooperation in the all-round development of this region.
Praising the BJP-led government at the Centre and the State, the BTC chief also said that during the Congress government, the BTC could get only Rs 200 crore, while it received Rs 500 crore during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Centre when the first BTC Accord was signed and more than Rs 1000 crore during the reign of the present government in a short time, which has benefited the area so much, he said.
Mohilary expressed confidence that the BPF will rule BTC for more than 25 years. He further reaffirmed the consolidation of BJP-BPF ties and added that the alliance will remain intact during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections this year.
Criticising the ABSU and NDFB (P) for protesting against ST status to six new communities, he has said that their design was to isolate Hagrama Mohilary and the BPF party from the BTC area. He added that the ABSU had earlier declared its support for extending ST status to Koch Rajbongshis and the Adivasis way back in 2006 and 2009 respectively while the BTC administration run by the BPF proposed the same in 2016 only. He blamed the ABSU and NDFB (P) for misinforming the people to get political mileage in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
It may be mentioned here that a sum of Rs 5 lakh each has been given to 2624 family members of the martyrs of Bodoland movement as a token of which the CM handed over Rs 5 lakh to some of such families on the occasion of the 17th Bodo Accord Day. Moreover, awards were distributed to personalities from various fields like literature, sports, etc., for their remarkable work and contribution to the society.
Rupam Goswami, BJP spokesperson, MP Biswajit Daimary, Taren Boro, BSS president, Chandan Brahma, Pramila Rani Brahma among other also attended the programme along with all EMs of BTC, MLAs and other leaders.
