UDALGURI, March 11 – The National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) should come for negotiations and should make public what it wants. If they want the welfare of the entire Bodo people, they should not delay in negotiations.” This was said by Hagrama Basumatary, chairman of Bodoland Liberation Tiger (BLT) at Udalguri courtfield Monday evening. He also questioned the validity of sovereign Boroland from Kokrajhar to Udalguri area only. Basumatary added that the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) would ensure peace and communal harmony and that development in the entire BTC area would be their priority.
Chandan Brahma, vice chairman of the organisation appealed to the industrialists to invest in the BTC area for its allround development. He also sought co-operation from all non-Bodo groups for all-round development of the BTC area. Earlier to this BLT chief Basumatary vowed to implement the BTC accord in letter and spirit and sought co-operation from all concerned.
The BLT leaders paid homage to the martyrs of Bodoland movement. Heavily guarded both by BLT cadres and government security forces, the BLT leaders were accorded warm welcome by the people of Udalguri subdivision. The welcome ceremony was chaired by Rihan Daimary, MLA of Udalguri LAC and attended by Derhasal Basumatary, general secretary of BLT, Mitharam Basumatary, home secretary of the outfit, Tarini Narzary, organising secretary, Somraja Basumatary, finance secretary, Binod Narzary, arms and ammunition secretary, Jamuna Rani Brahma, president of All Bodo Women Welfare Federation, Nathuram Boro, MLA of Kalaigaon LAC, Karendra Basumatary, MLA of Mazbat LAC, Kamali Basumatary, MLA of Panery LAC, and Lwmshrw Daimary, among many other distinguished guests representing various communities of Udalguri subdivision.
In a hurriedly arranged press-meet, Sri Chandan Brahma said that all the four districts of BTC would get a most equal facilities. When asked about the BLT’s surrender, Brahma replied that the surrender process would take place immediately after the formation of BTC in May next.
On the question of victimised families of the Bodoland movement, the BLT vice chairman said that the members of victimised families would be settled properly as per their qualifications. When asked about the rehabilitation of the refugees still languishing in the relief camps in Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon etc. Brahma said that the refugees having myadi patas of their land and other genuine revenue proofs would be settled properly.
The welcome ceremony witnessed more than 10,000 people from various communities of the subdivision. The BLT leaders were felicitated with aarnais, gamochas and Nepali topis by student organisations like Udalguri anchalik committees of ABSU, AANSU, ARSU, AASU and by many other organisations.