From Preetam Brahma Chouhdury
Kokrajhar: Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief executive member Pramod Boro on Friday placed a normal budget of Rs 174,646 lakhs of Bodoland Territorial Council Legislative Assembly for the year 2020-21.
The budget session is the first session of the Pramod Boro led UPPL-BJP-GSP coalition government in BTC. Later talking to Reporters after the budget, the BTC chief Pramod Boro said while this budget is for a short period, it has been tried to ensure that it follows seamlessly in next budget i.e.2021-2022 and efforts contained in the same directions. In his speech, Boro said the BTR Accord has been implemented by the Central and State government with many clauses of the Accord already being implemented including setting up 4 special Courts to resolve the pending case against the former NDFB cadres. He also sought help and cooperation from the members to take the BTR a new height of glory.
The opposition Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) boycotted and abstain from participating in the budget session. All the 16 opposition members from the opposition BPF were not present in the House .
Senior BPF leader Doneswar Goyary termed the Pramod Boro led UPPL-BJP-GSP coalition government as illegal and invalid and thus the party has stayed away from participating in the budget session. The BPF leader said the BPF do not accept the floor test held on 24 December as it was not done in proper democratic way. He also said the party is challenging the floor test before the Court. Pramod Boro led UPPL-BJP-GSP won the floor test with support of 22 members against the opposition BPF’s 16 during the floor test.
BTC chief and UPPL president Pramod Boro termed it “unfortunate and irresponsible act” on the part of opposition members. He said the public have voted the members to power and the main objective should be to work and serve the people. “It shows they (opposition) are doing politics only for power and not to serve the public. It’s unfortunate. I appeal to them to come forward and take part in the welfare work of the public, Boro said.
Deputy Chief Gobindo Chandra Basumatary informed the House that initiative has been taken for rehabilitation and compensation to NDFB as per the Peace (BTR) Accord signed on 27 January 2020 in between the Govt of India, state govt of Assam, ABSU, all four factions of NDFB, and United Bodo People’s Organisation. He said the matter has been discussed with ADG (SB) Hiren Nath on the rehabilitation of the NDFB cadres and other issues on Wednesday.
He said Rs 4 lakhs from the Centre and Rs 2 lacs from the state would be given as compensation to the NDFB cadre. Moreover matters relating to withdrawal of pending cases have also been taken up with the state and union home ministry as per the spirit of the BTR accord and a special legal cell would be instituted to look into the matter. He also said the state govt has also assured of Special recruitment for the cadres in the state, besides special recruitment in paramilitary forces for Bodo youths as per the spirit of the Accord.
On the release of 25 cadres lodged in Bhutan jail as raised by Executive member and former NDFB (S) general secretary B.R. Ferenga alais Ranjit Basumatary, Basumatary said the matter would be pursued with the Home ministry to resolve the issue for their early release. The house also decided to pressure the state and state govt on resolving the problems of various arms groups in ceasefire through peace negotiation. The house resolves to increase numbers of executive members from present 14 to 17 in the BTC
