Bodos offer Advani new set of proposals

Bodos offer Advani new set of proposals
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, MARCH 30: The talks Home Minister L.K. Advani held with Bodo leaders at North Block today is likely to have paved the way for another accord in Assam. Giving indications to this, the Home Ministry's Additional Secretary P.D. Shenoy (also involved in the deliberations) said that after the Assam Assembly election, the accord could be finalised and there could even be tripartite talks betwen the Centre, the state government and the Bodo representatives.

The vice-chairman and publicity secretary of the Bodo Liberation Tigers today remained closeted in the Home Minister's office. They have given a fresh set of proposals to the Home Minister, including -- abolition of existing Bodo Autonomous Council (BAC) and setting up of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) with four co-terminus districts, constitutional safeguards to the BTC under the Sixth Schedule, inclusion of Bodo language under the Eighth Schedule, establishment of central university professional colleges for medicine, engineering, agriculture and information technology and liberal financial package from the Central Government for 10 years to ensure infrastructural development of the region.

Advani, without committing anything to the Bodo leaders, told them that he would have to first discuss the matter with various Central Ministries before arriving at a decision.

Shenoy said: ``Talks have made progress and differences have narrowed down. On the basis of the negotiations, proposals are being submitted at the state and Central Government level to the competent authorities for an early decision.''

The past 10 days have seen the Home Ministry holding talks with several factions, including the All Bodo Students Union. Last week, Advani met several other Bodo groups such as Bodo People's Action Committee, All Bodo Employee Federation and Bodo Sahitya Sabha, before meeting Assam Chief Minister P.K. Mahanta yesterday.