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Centre, Bodo rebels, Assam government agree to keep talking

Rajesh Ramachandran in New Delhi

The two-month-old Bharatiya Janata Party government's first official talks with any separatist group, though inconclusive, has ended on a positive note, with the administration displaying its willingness to reach out to the militants and reach a fresh agreement.

The silver lining to the home ministry's two-day tripartite talks with the Bodo leaders and the Assam government, which ended on Tuesday, is that the leaders have agreed to meet again after the current Budget session of Parliament. This, despite the Bodos sticking to their demand for a separate state.

The government's success lies in the promise of further talks and an ultimate accord getting translated into a respite to the murderous clashes between Bodo militants and the Santhals, which have taken a heavy toll in the troubled state.

Additional Home Secretary Dr P D Shenoy, who chaired the meeting, said differences between the two sides had narrowed down. And that the government is willing to implement the promises made by the agreement signed between the Bodos and the central government in 1993.

The Bodo agreement, which created a Bodoland Autonomous Council, is termed a dud by all the Bodo Groups, including the People's Democratic Front which runs the council, and Kokrajhar MP and former All Bodo Students Union president S K Biswamuthiary who was the first signatory to the agreement.

The accord, signed between the Bodo groups and the then minister of state for home, Rajesh Pilot on February 20, 1993, have deficiencies galore, contend the Bodo leaders.

It could not demarcate the boundary for the BAC, no election has been conducted for the council, surrendered militants have not been rehabilitated, cases against them have not been withdrawn and, most importantly, the council does not have constitutional validity like the other two district councils in Assam which are set up under the provisions of Schedule 6 of the Constitution.

The Bodos seek a new state north of the Brahmaputra, inclusion of the Bodo language in Schedule 8 making it an official language, creation of a district council in Nilachal and Lalung on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra which have a sizeable Bodo population, and giving Scheduled Tribe status to the Bodos living in the hills.

"The two-day talks have not borne any fruit, but it is a step in the right direction. Our problem can be thrashed out only through a political decision to have a separate Bodoland. These official talks cannot take us far. Ultimately, it should be a political decision for which there should be political level talks," Berlao Karji, a senior ABSU leader who attended the meeting, told Rediff On The NeT.

What the Bodos want is a political discussion between the Union home minister, the Assam chief minister and the Bodo groups, on the feasibility of a new state, short of which the Bodo groups are not ready for a settlement. The Bodos have clearly been encouraged by the BJP's plan to create smaller states like Chattisgarh, Uttaranchal and Vananchal.

The ruling Asom Gana Parishad and the central government are, however, opposed to the creation of a new state. Dr Shenoy, on his part, has reached out with the promise that the BAC will be made operational and the council's territorial boundary will be demarcated.

"I don't think the government will discuss a separate state. But we are ready to talk about all matters concerning the Bodos. Obviously, there will be another agreement after further discussion. Ultimately, this would involve all the demands made by the Bodos within the earlier agreement," G K Pillai, joint secretary in charge of the North-East at the home ministry, told Rediff On The NeT.

Pillai said political discussions would be the last stage before the signing of a new accord and everything, including constitutional protection for the council, could be discussed then.

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