Autonomy to ethnic groups to be ABSU's poll plank

GUWAHATI, April 8: Meaningful autonomy with constitutional safeguards to the ethnic groups of Assam will be the main poll plank of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) and its associate organisations in the ensuing Assembly elections in the State, said the ABSU advisor, Urkhau Gwra Brahma. Talking to The Assam Tribune here today, Brahma said that the indigenous people of Assam must fight together for their survival as the their identity was under threat due to wrong policies of the successive governments and unabated influx of foreigners, which changed the population pattern of the State. He revealed that the ABSU already had talks with Karbi, Tiwa and Mishing groups with a bid to fighting together for meaningful autonomy to the tribal groups. However, Brahma said that the ABSU has not given up its demand for the creation of a separate State of Bodoland and "we have only been thinking of the broader issue of autonomy to all ethnic groups." The ABSU and its associate organisations like the Bodo Peoples' Action Committee (BPAC), All Bodo Employees Federation and the Bodo Women's Welfare Federation have formed a central election committee for the ensuing polls and a steering committee headed by Brahma was formed to talk with political parties and groups for a possible seat-sharing arrangement. Brahma said that the ABSU and its associate organisations have already decided to extend support to the AGP-BJP alliance "for the benefit of the indigenous people of the State." He said that both the AGP and BJP have shown interest in solving the problems of the ethnic groups of the State, as was evident from the steps initiated by the State and the Central governments during the ongoing talks between the Centre and the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT). It was for the first time the BJP got a chance to do something for the solution of the Bodo problem, while the attitude of the AGP towards the problems of the ethnic groups has changed, he added. Hitting out at the Congress, Brahma said that the party got ample opportunity to work for the solution of the problems of the ethnic groups, but in reality the party failed to take any positive step. The Bodo Accord signed during the Congress regime in 1993 was a mockery in the name of autonomy but the present State and the Union governments have proposed meaningful autonomy with constitutional safeguard to the Bodos during the peace talks with the BLT, he pointed out. He pointed out that even as a major opposition party, the Congress failed to offer any meaningful suggestion for the solution of the problems of the ethnic groups. The ABSU advisor said that they were keen to contest from 15 seats, subject to adjustments and in other constituencies, they would support the candidates of the AGP-BJP alliance. He said that the ABSU and its associate organisations would be the deciding factor in at least 20 seats apart from the 15 seats that they were willing to contest. He, however, ruled out the possibility of any kind of electoral understanding with the Peoples' Democratic Front (PDF). Brahma expressed apprehension that militant outfit National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) might try to create disturbance in some constituencies. "The NDFB is always opposed to us and as we have decided to extend support to the AGP-BJP alliance, the NDFB may extend help to the Congress just to oppose us," he said. He also expressed apprehension that the Assembly polls might witness large-scale rigging if the administration shows any slackness. It may be mentioned here that a delegation of the ABSU met Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who is also the president of the AGP, last night to discuss poll-related issues.