Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma speaks during the
'Roadshow on Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit 2025', at Colaba in Mumbai, Monday,
Jan. 6, 2025. (PTI Photo)
KOKRAJHAR (ASSAM) — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Tuesday said he is
hopeful that the Centre will introduce the 125th Constitution Amendment Bill in
the upcoming Parliament session that aims to devolve more powers to tribal
autonomous councils like the one in Bodo-dominated areas of the state.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of an event held here
to mark five years of the Bodo Peace Accord of 2020, Sarma said his government
will work to "consolidate" the gains of this tripartite pact in a
manner that it does not "derail" the peace process.
The chief minister was accompanied by Bodoland Territorial
Council (BTC) chief executive member Pramod Boro.
"There is a proposal...we call it the 125th Amendment
of the Constitution. The state government is supporting the amendment.
"The government of India is in process of bringing that
Constitutional amendment. Standing Committee discussion is over. Both of us
(BTC chief Boro) are hopeful that something positive we will see in the coming
Budget Session," he said.
The Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced
in the Rajya Sabha by the Union government in 2019. The Bill seeks to amend
provisions related to the Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule of the
Constitution.
The Sixth Schedule relates to the administration of tribal
areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), set up under the
Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, comprises five districts -- Kokrajhar,
Chirang, Baska, Udalguri and Tamulpur and it administers 8,970 sq km of the BTR
inhabited by more than 31 lakh people, including the Bodos, the single-largest
Scheduled Tribe in Assam.
Sarma, when asked about the BTC seeking more funds for
initiation of development works, said money is "not an issue" but it
is his belief that giving rather than taking should be the way.
Pointing towards Boro, Sarma said "we will work
together" to ensure the overall development of the BTR. The chief minister
also said the Council is getting funds from three sources -- Assam government,
the Centre and through their own avenues.
"Six thousand people came to the mainstream (due to the
2020 accord). Had they got weapons you can think of the consequences. There has
been no armed person over the last 3.5 years in this region.
"Leave alone violence, there has not been any
democratic agitation. BTR is now an island of peace," he said.
Sarma said the narrative of Bodo, non-Bodo has ended.
Asked if his party will fight the upcoming elections in BTR
alongside Boro, Sarma said the state BJP president and the BTC chief will
decide on these issues and that it is a matter of "strategy".
"Last time we contested independently and came together
post the polls. The BJP has a strong presence here but we have not claimed the
post of the chief of deputy chief (of the BTC). This is the BJP way of not
interfering with the development of tribals," he said.
He said Assam and BTR were "not different" and all
of them shared the prosperity.
Asked about the situation along the India-Bangladesh border
in the state, the chief minister said "Assam is very very vigilant when it
comes to infiltration from Bangladesh".
"Today, situation in Bangladesh is not good. We have
heard that ISI along with a section of Bangladeshi establishment is trying to
re-group with militants in Northeast...within Assam, nobody wants to disturb
peace," he said, adding there was no local support for insurgency in the
border state.
On a question on ULFA chief Paresh Baruah, Sarma said Barua
"also wants peace and does not want to derail peace and stability in the
state".
When asked if Assam is proposing to invite industrialists
for investments in the BTR region, the chief minister said tribal people are
"very sensitive" about land and hence they have to be talked with,
taken into confidence before land is allotted for industries and businesses.
"Development will be done all along but we have to be
sensitive when negotiating with tribals," he said.
