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AASAA demands non-Bodo representation in tripartite talks

The All Adivasi Students Association of Assam has demanded that the representatives of all communities be invited for the proposed tripartite talks between the Centre, the state and different Bodo organisations.

The talks are scheduled to be held at Kokrajhar on September 11.

The AASAA said 70 per cent of the inhabitants of the Bodoland Autonomous Council areas are non-Bodos. All representatives should be invited to the talks, it said.

In a statement, AASAA publicity secretary Rajesh Marandi alleged that the state government was not interested in finding a permanent solution to the problem. If the government did not involve the non-Bodos, the AASAA would vigorously oppose the talks.

Citing examples of continuous killing, kidnapping and ethnic violence in the BAC areas, he said a permanent solution could not be found without involving the Adivasis.

Taking strong exception to identifying the Adivasis as ''foreigners'' by the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland, the AASAA publicity secretary said the NDFB should learn from Indian history who were foreigners and who were not.

As the NDFB already wanted to deport the Adivasis and has ordered them to leave the BAC areas, if the government tried to find a permanent solution to the Bodo problem, there would be no alternative but adopt a resolution demanding an independent Jharkhand land, he added.

UNI

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