By Our Kokrajhar Web Desk
Kokrajhar (Assam) , Jan 24 :All roads led to the Green Field Bodofa Nwgwr here today where a sea of humanity turned up to witness the opening ceremony of the first BTR(Bodoland Territorial Region) accord day celebration today . The four day mega event will conclude on Wednesday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended a special function held here to celebrate the first anniversary of the historic Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) agreement. The Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance and Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, chief of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Promod Boro and other leaders also attended the programme.
In his address, Shah said exactly a year ago, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Bodoland Territorial Region Peace Agreement was signed under which, according to the directions of the Prime Minister, wherever there is unrest in the entire North East, talks with all sections of the people paved the way for peace.
Shah said the BTR agreement has completed one year and led by PM Modi, a new era of peace has begun. The problem of the Bodo region, which had been continuing over several years and claimed more than 5,000 lives, was resolved as a result of the firm resolve and guidance of PM Modi, paving the way for development in the Bodo region.
Shah said that I have come to assure you that the Bodo region which was once bloodied, where the people took up arms and kidnappings were rampant, will emerge as the most developed area in a few years.
He said today both Bodo and non-Bodo are present in this rally, conveying the message that both Bodos and non-Bodos are sons of the soil, children of India and both are striving for peace together.
The Union Home Minister said there was a historic agreement under the leadership of the Prime Minister, in which the Government of India would fulfil all oral and written assurances and keep your trust. Shah said the efforts of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma towards this agreement are commendable.
The Union Home Minister said the Prime Minister started ending the unrest not only in Assam but the entire North East and it started with the Bodo Peace Agreement, followed by the Bru-Reang Agreement. Today the era of violence is coming to an end and the era of peace is beginning.
Shah also said the Prime Minister has done the work of scrapping Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution from Jammu and Kashmir and in the recent Panchayat elections, police did not have to shoot a single bullet and peaceful polling took place.
Amit Shah said earlier Governments also signed many Agreements but they were not followed, assurances were made but not fulfilled, but now there is this Government of Narendra Modi and the promises which the Prime Minister makes are also fulfilled within its tenure. The Union Home Minister said a number of projects have been initiated for the Bodo region and efforts are being made promptly for their development. Development work for the residents of the Bodo region is being done through various commissions and advisory committees.
Home Minister said an assistance of Rs. 4 lakh has been started for all surrendered militants. The work of honouring the Bodo language is also being done and the long pending demand was fulfilled by according it the status of the state’s co-language.
The Union Home Minister said the Assam government is also setting up three degree colleges in the region. Tributes are being paid to Late Upendra Nath Brahma by opening an institute in his name.
Rs. 500 crore has been allocated for the road network in Bodo areas and the entire Bodo region will be developed through this road. 65 schemes worth Rs. 750 crore have been commissioned and a separate allocation of Rs. 565 crore has also been done. He said the Prime Minister believes that Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is the mantra that can make India Aatmanirbhar, preserve the culture of the Bodo region and move ahead by further promoting and developing it. He also said that besides ensuring economic, cultural and educational progress, political rights will also be protected.
Amit Shah said after the formation of the Modi Government in 2014, a new era of development has started and development which has not happened in the last 70 years has happened in the last 5 years. The fight against Corona under the leadership of the Assam Chief Minister and Health Minister took place with great success and the death rate was limited to 0.47 percent, which is very commendable.
Shah said the process of vaccination is being made easier by setting up more vaccination centers.
The Union Home Minister said tourism will also come up through proper development in Assam and the entire North East will develop along with the development of the state. He said the Union Government is standing like a rock behind the Government of Assam, you just keep marching forward.
Shah said only under the leadership of Shri Modi, can Assam be rid of corruption, infiltration, terrorism and pollution.
In the peace accord,all four factions of NDFB,All Bodo Student Union (ABSU) and United Bodo People’s Organisation (UBPO) were the signataries and was regarded as an inclusive peace accord in the history of northeastern region.
Since after signing BTR accord, several clauses of the BTR accord have been implemented which are part of the rehabilitation packages of the NDFB cadres, creation of a separate directorate for Bodo language and other tribal languages. Moreover , Bodo languages has been granted the status of associate official language in the state with deputy commissioners in four districts of BTR .
Union Home Minister Shah today also distributed ex- gratia amount of Rs 5 lakhs each to the martyrs families who had sacrificed their lives during the Bodoland struggle .
“In Assam,BJP-UPPL-GSP coalition government would be formed in Assam by winning majority of the seats”, Shah said.
He said that the BTR accord has brought a deep belief and unity among the society.
BTR chief executive member Pramod Boro said that the BTR accord was an impressive solution among the society in the Bodo belts.He said that the BTR accord brought a parivartan among the people in the region.
He said that the BTR accord was an accord for peace and prosperity among the society.
He alleged that the previous BPF led BTC administration had indulged in massive corruption and anomalies in all frontal welfare aspects due to insincere attitude of the BTC administration.
He recalled the contribution of martyrs who laid down their lives and said that the BTR accord was an outcome of sacrifice of over 5000 martyrs across the region.
