Kokrajhar, Dec. 5: After backing the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) all through the peace process, the powerful All Bodo Students? Union (Absu) will now don the role of the community?s policeman to ensure that the new leadership does not falter from its path. Charting a broader role for the students? organisation in the new set-up, Absu president Rabiram Narzary told The Telegraph that the union would keep a close watch on the functioning of the Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) and the implementation of the accord.
?The Absu will play a vital role from outside in the successful implementation of the Bodo Accord,? he said.
The Bodo Liberation Tigers, which paved the way for the formation of the interim executive council, will also largely rely on Absu for implementation of the accord as the union has a strong mass base, he added.
Narzary said after the bitter experience of the Bodo Accord of 1993, this time the Absu would monitor the implementation of every clause of the accord more closely.
?The interim council must delineate the constitution of the BTC and hold election within the stipulated six months of its formation so that the people can enjoy their democratic rights,? Narzary said, ostensibly firm on ensuring that the BTC turns into a full-fledged democratic body.
The Absu leader said his organisation would monitor every policy the nascent council takes and oppose the wrong ones.
Sending a strong message to forces opposed to the council, Narzary said the Absu would identify the forces and organisations that may try to brew trouble in the council area.
The Absu will organise mass movements, if necessary, against these forces to neutralise any threat to the council, he added.
Narzary also envisages the role of facilitator for the student body in creating a conducive and harmonious environment for all communities in the BTC.
?It will be our endeavour to maintain good relation and co-ordination between all communities and social organisations within the council to work unitedly for peace and development of the BTC areas,? he said, adding, ?I wish people of all the communities and socio-political organisations accept the BTC whole-heartedly and contribute to the all-round development of the area.?
Narzary said the students? union would continue to voice issues pertaining to the community and ensure that the education sector gets due importance. It would also play a more active role in shaping the future of the new generation.
?In collaboration with our social organisations as well as non-governmental organisations, the Absu will organise seminars inviting renowned scholars, educationists and academicians from all over. We will bring awareness among the guardians about the importance of education and stress on good student-teacher relations,? Narzary said.
On the role of the Co-ordination Committee for Bodoland Movement (CCBM) ? formed in 1996 with the organisation of different communities ? Narzary said with the formation of the BTC, the committee practically would have no role and it would be dissolved. But the committee members would be accommodated in the new body to be formed to administer the BTC.
The committee was formed with a view to involve all the communities, including the non-Bodos, in the political movement for Bodoland. Narzary is also the convener of the committee.