Bodos Unite to End Violence

By Preetam B. Choudhury

Bodo leaders at the meeting on Friday.

Barama (Baksa), Sep 11 : In a move towards restoring peace in the Bodo belt, several organisations which had earlier been at loggerheads today decided to work together in the greater interest of society.

Braving the incessant rain since early this morning, leaders and representatives from over 26 Bodo organisations attended the unification meeting at Barama College in Baksa to find a solution to end the violence and work for a common cause.

Members of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), the Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF), the United Democratic Peoples’ Front (UDPF), the National Democratic Front Boroland (Progressive), the Ex-BLT Welfare Association, the Boro Women Justice Forum (BWJF), the All Bodo Women Welfare Federation, among others, took part in the conclave.

The Bodoland Peoples’ Progressive Front (BPPF), however, stayed away from the conclave.

Thousands of people gathered at the college ground with the hope that something positive would come out of it.

The meet adopted three resolutions — to form a committee for holding more such meetings, to appeal to the anti-talks NDFB to come forward for peace talks in the greater interest of the Bodo community and to approach the Centre to hold talks with the NDFB.

Terming the move as historic, Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Mohilary, who is also the president of BPF said, “It is really good to see that we have realised the need to unite and work together. We have many agenda that need collective effort. Let’s usher in a new beginning by forgetting our past differences and work together.”

Echoing Mohilary, NDFB (Progressive) secretary general B. Swmkwr said, “Lack of co-ordination and constructive effort among the Bodo groups have caused immense loss. To forge unity and mutual understanding, we need to forget the past. Our motto henceforth should be to forget and forgive. Let us work together for unity and development and make our dream of separate homeland a success.”

Boro Women Justice Forum president Anjali Daimary termed the unity move as the need of the hour.

Absu presiden romode Boro said unity is a common desire of the Bodo community.

Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Kameswar Brahma also called upon the leaders to end their differences.

“The common people are not idiots. It is the leaders who need to change their views and unite to work in the greater interest of the community,” he said.