GUWAHATI, Feb 24— Though the Bodo dominated areas of Assam witnessed hype and euphoria following the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement between the Central and State Governments and Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) for the creation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), the other major Bodo militant group National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) is yet to come for talks and as the outfit has vowed to carry on its struggle, it remains to be seen whether the pact with the BLT would bring lasting peace to the Bodo dominated areas.
In an interview with The Assam Tribune, the NDFB chairman Nabla Daimari claimed that the accord would not fulfill the aspirations of the Bodo people and said that they would continue its struggle. The following are the excerpts of the interview conducted through internet:
Assam Tribune: What is your reaction to the signing of the accord between the Government and the BLT for the creation of Boroland Territorial Council?
Nabla: It is not an accord but just a capitulation of BLT of their principle and ideology. It can never fulfill the hope and aspiration of the Boro people.
AT: Your organization has put up a gate in the ABSU conference at Bonargaon in Kokrajhar welcoming the BTC. What is the significance of the it?
Nabla: We have not put up any gate welcoming the BTC in ABSU conference. It may be the handiwork of some vested quarter to confuse our stand.
AT: Once you said that success of the talks with the BLT and the NSCN would aspire other insurgent groups of the NE to come for talks. Now with the talks with the NSCN heading in the right direction and signing of the Accord with BLT, are you also planning to come forward for talks?
Nabla: The talk with the NSCN is not heading in right direction and the Memorandum of Settlement signed by the BLT is just a capitulation. So there is no reason to be aspired to talk to Indian Government.
AT: In the ABSU conference, the leaders of the BLT and the ABSU have appealed to the NDFB to come forward for talks. What is your reaction to such appeals?
Nabla: I think these are all just public statements. We will react only when they approach us officially.
AT: There is apprehension among certain quarters that the NDFB may indulge in violence to destabilize the BLT. Does that apprehension has any basis?
Nabla: This apprehension is baseless. But our armed struggle will continue till we achieve our goal.
AT: How far the recent arrests of two top leaders affected the NDFB?
Nabla: The arrests of two leaders are set back for us. But the NDFB is not shocked and demoralized. We have passed through such problems, difficulties and hardship. Both the Vice President and General Secretary were arrested in 1994 and in 1988 and were in jail for three years. But the NDFB continued its struggle. And shall continue to struggle for our rights.