09-07-2012, 07:15 AM
The chief of the Bodoland Territorial Council has threatened to launch a fresh movement for a separate Bodoland state unless the government weeds out the ââ¬ÅBangaldeshi immigrantsââ¬Â who are being described as the root cause of the ongoing violence.
ââ¬ÅDonââ¬â¢t force me to launch a movement for a separate Bodoland. The Centre and the state government should not allow illegal immigrants from Bangladesh to stay in BTC. They are at the root of all the trouble,ââ¬Â says Hagrama Mohilary, former head of the militant Bodoland Liberation Tigers and now chairperson of the political Bodoland Peopleââ¬â¢s Front, besides being chief executive of the BTC. He says he ââ¬Ådoes not want a separate Bodoland nowââ¬Â but what has happened with Bodos in the last one-and-a-half months makes strong enough a reason to raise the demand afresh.
The Assam government has been trying to get refugees, mostly Muslims, to return from refugee camps and Hagramaââ¬â¢s party claims a large number of them are ââ¬ÅBangladeshi citizens who settled in BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts) illegallyââ¬Â.
ââ¬ÅCome what may, we will not allow Bangaldeshis to stay in BTC. Why should we take the responsibility of foreigners?ââ¬Â he says. ââ¬ÅNot less than 2 lakh Bangladeshi Muslims have crossed the border and settled in BTAD over the last nine years. We have good relations with indigenous Bengali-speaking Muslims who have been living here for decades with land rights and voter identity cards.ââ¬Â
He accused the government for being soft on infiltrators. ââ¬ÅI have told the government that if the Bangladesh border is not sealed, the ethnic crisis will remain,ââ¬Â says Hagrama, whose party claims Kokrajharââ¬â¢s Muslim population has gone up 10 per cent in 10 years.
ââ¬ÅI had even told the state government Bangladeshi Muslims are forming militant organisations with the objective of a separate Muslimland with 14 districts, including the four in BTAD. They have formed the United Minority National Army in BTAD,ââ¬Â he says.
He says the situation would not have turned so violent had efforts been made to involve the BTC in the peace process at the initial stage. ââ¬ÅThe government involved us after almost one-and-a-half months,ââ¬Â he says.
Asked about the supply of arms to rioters, he says, ââ¬ÅMoney can fetch anything,ââ¬Â but adds, ââ¬ÅBodos do not possess arms. We surrendered all our arms after the BLT was dissolved.
ââ¬ÅDonââ¬â¢t force me to launch a movement for a separate Bodoland. The Centre and the state government should not allow illegal immigrants from Bangladesh to stay in BTC. They are at the root of all the trouble,ââ¬Â says Hagrama Mohilary, former head of the militant Bodoland Liberation Tigers and now chairperson of the political Bodoland Peopleââ¬â¢s Front, besides being chief executive of the BTC. He says he ââ¬Ådoes not want a separate Bodoland nowââ¬Â but what has happened with Bodos in the last one-and-a-half months makes strong enough a reason to raise the demand afresh.
The Assam government has been trying to get refugees, mostly Muslims, to return from refugee camps and Hagramaââ¬â¢s party claims a large number of them are ââ¬ÅBangladeshi citizens who settled in BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts) illegallyââ¬Â.
ââ¬ÅCome what may, we will not allow Bangaldeshis to stay in BTC. Why should we take the responsibility of foreigners?ââ¬Â he says. ââ¬ÅNot less than 2 lakh Bangladeshi Muslims have crossed the border and settled in BTAD over the last nine years. We have good relations with indigenous Bengali-speaking Muslims who have been living here for decades with land rights and voter identity cards.ââ¬Â
He accused the government for being soft on infiltrators. ââ¬ÅI have told the government that if the Bangladesh border is not sealed, the ethnic crisis will remain,ââ¬Â says Hagrama, whose party claims Kokrajharââ¬â¢s Muslim population has gone up 10 per cent in 10 years.
ââ¬ÅI had even told the state government Bangladeshi Muslims are forming militant organisations with the objective of a separate Muslimland with 14 districts, including the four in BTAD. They have formed the United Minority National Army in BTAD,ââ¬Â he says.
He says the situation would not have turned so violent had efforts been made to involve the BTC in the peace process at the initial stage. ââ¬ÅThe government involved us after almost one-and-a-half months,ââ¬Â he says.
Asked about the supply of arms to rioters, he says, ââ¬ÅMoney can fetch anything,ââ¬Â but adds, ââ¬ÅBodos do not possess arms. We surrendered all our arms after the BLT was dissolved.