NEW DELHI, Feb 21 � In an apparent bid to defuse the tension, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is likely to meet the All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) and its associate organisations on February 27, while the Centre is mulling the option of setting up an expert committee to look into the viability of creating a separate State.
In the wake of heightened anticipation among the Bodo organisations after creation of Telangana, the Centre in a swift change of strategy, decided to involve the Home Minister in the ongoing dialogue with the Bodos. The Centre has been holding tripartite talks with various organisations demanding separate States, at the Joint Secretary-level.
The first round of talks on Friday was held with a delegation led by ABSU, where they reiterated the demand for creation of a separate State of Bodoland, particularly in the wake of the Centre�s decision to create Telangana. They also demanded that the ongoing talks be upgraded to the level of the Home Minister.
Later, emerging from the meeting, Joint Secretary (North-east), Shambhu Singh told newsmen that a meeting is scheduled between the Home Minister and the Bodo delegation.
The Bodo National Council (BNC) and BPF held separate meetings where the Centre and the State Government agreed to set up an expert level committee to study the viability of a separate State.
Later, chairman of the BNC and BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary said the Centre and State Government have agreed to set up a one-man committee to explore the possibility of creation of a separate State. Notification for such a committee is likely to be issued by Tuesday.
The BPF and BNC had earlier proposed the name of former Home Secretary GK Pillai. The BPF and BNC delegations are also likely to meet the Home Minister next week.
Meanwhile, Mohilary charged that the ABSU is only interested in prolonging the agitation and not interested in a permanent solution.
Sources in the MHA also said that the there was a perceptible difference between the demand of both the groups. While one group led by ABSU is demanding a separate State of Bodoland on the lines of Telangana, the other group wants to set up a committee to study the viability of Bodoland State.
