"Assam Should not be Upset if Bodo Militancy gets Resolved": ABSU Leader Pramod Boro

New Delhi, January 25, 2020:

All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) President Pramod Boro, currently camped out in New Delhi to take part in the peace parlays between the Central and Assam Governments and the Bodo stakeholders, informed Inside Northeast that the agreement likely to be signed on January 27, is a "conflict resolution".

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Boro, speaking to us over the phone, stated that the aim of the upcoming agreement is to resolve the long drawn out armed conflict in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) region, primarily because of a separate state demand. "We have made several demands such as the demand for a separate state...however, this is an effort by the Government to resolve the armed conflict, and we are a part of that. Within the Constitution, we have made some demands to the Government...for instance, the safeguarding of Bodo language, education....and administrative problems in the region."

In regards to the question of a separate state Bodoland, the student said, "there are a lot of questions regarding Bodoland...Assam does not want Bodoland, whereas we have been demanding it..the centre, meanwhile, wants to reach a solution without hurting sentiments. This is where we are at the moment. However, some people are spreading misinformation about the new agreement..Assam people should not be upset if the Bodo militancy problem gets resolved.."

"The Bodos will not get a lot of material benefits from this new, but this will give us peace. The rebels who were camped out in jungles...they will finally get to see their families, and this is likely to end the armed struggle of the Bodos. That is our outlook...", said the ABSU leader.

"This is a huge achievement for the Governments..and the untiring efforts of the intelligence units made this possible", said the student leader, lauding the Government for its efforts to bring the militants into the mainstream.

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The ABSU leader also opined that if the returned insurgents decide to partake in politics, it might shake up the region. "It might affect the political scenario in the BTC or it might not. If the returned insurgent leaders choose to participate in elections, it might affect the politics in a positive way..."

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