Bodo Agreement – Hopeful to Resolve Bodoland Issue

This article talks about the issue of bodo people who were demanding for a separate state of bodoland from Assam. The article emphasizes on the bodo movement, violence caused by bodo, their terror spreading organizations, and also the efforts made by government to solve this issue.

Who are Bodo?

Bodo Movement

Bodo Representative Groups

Chronology of Events

Bodo Agreement

Conclusion

Who are Bodo?

Bodo people are native to Assam and the largest tribal community of Assam. They are settled in north of Brahmaputra River in state of Assam which is north eastern state of India. They constitute 5 – 6% of total population of Assam. They are one of the oldest and important tribal communities of India and Bodo are placed in the sixth schedule of Indian constitution.  

Bodo Movement

Bodo people fear that there is threat to their identity, sovereignty, area and culture due to entry of outsiders in their region. In order to save their rights, they led a movement and demanded for a separate state of “Bodoland” in Assam. First time this demand was raised by PTCA (Plains Tribal Council of Assam – a political group) in 1966. It was further led by NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland). The protests by NDFB reached to such a level that Government of India had to declare NDFB as illegal under UAPA 1967. Again in 1972, for the same demand of separate state of Bodoland, ABSU (All Bodo Student’s Union) took the command. Initially, the protests were peaceful and constitutional but in 1987, Bodo protests turned violent. ABSU leader Upendra Nath Brahma demanded for dividing Assam in to two equal parts. He gave the slogan of “Divide Assam 50-50”. The speed of Bodo movement increased after Assam accord of 1985. The reason was that accord promised to protect the rights of Assamese which was seen by Bodo against their rights. With the origin of ULFA in 1980s, whole insurgency turned violent.  

Bodo Representative Groups

There are three main groups representing demands of Bodo people. These are:

1. NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland) – demanding for a separate state
2. Bodoland Tiger Force – demanding for more autonomy
3. ABSU – moderate in actions and demanding for a political solution  

Chronology of Events

The problems of Bodo people began before independence. They were facing issue of land encroachments by British. In 1920s, they even reached Simon commission for drawing attention of British authorities to their problems but never found a solution. As explained above, Bodo movement began in 1960s, propelled further in 1970s and turned violent in 1980s. NDFB originated initially as Bodo Security Force in October 1986. It was found by Ranjan Daimari. Later, it was renamed as NDFB. In 1990, Indian security forces conducted large operation against NDFB. As a result, its members ran to Bhutan and continued there. In 2000, with the cooperation and support of each other, Royal Bhutan Army and Indian Army conducted a joint operation against terrorism and wiped off their militancy. In 2005, NDFB signed a ceasefire but it could not become effective. NDFB was accused of several murders and violence. It is claimed that this organization killed more than 823 people. In 2012, hundreds of people were killed in Bodo-Muslim conflict and about 5 lakh people were displaced by that time. In 2014, thirty people were killed by secessionists in Kokhrajhar and Sonithpur districts. In same year, NDFB was declared illegal and ban on it was further increased for next 5 years in November 2019. On 11^th January 2020, NDFB (S) surrendered which was reluctant to put down weapons for a long time.           

Bodo Agreement

In 2020, a historic agreement called “Bodo Agreement” was signed for resolution of the issue of Bodo people. The signing parties are Central government, Assam government and representatives of Bodo organizations. On account of three agreeing parties, it is also called tripartite agreement. On 27^th January 2020, Bodo agreement was signed. It will help to take out North East of India from uncertainties and instabilities. The agreement was signed after discussion with the stakeholders. The provisions of Bodo agreement or Assam agreement are described ahead:

1. The agreement assures to fulfill the promises made to Bodo people.
2. There are provisions for giving political rights and economic packages to Bodo people.
3. It will help to bring more than 1500 violent and ammunition holding protesters in to mainstreams.
4. It will conserve political, economic, land related, executive rights and maintain cultural and lingual identity of Bodo people.
5. There is grant of Rs 1500 Cr. by the central and state government for the development projects and programs.
6. BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District) will be expanded to seven districts which is currently limited to four districts of Baksar, Chirang, Kokhrajhar, Udalgiri.
7. Rs. 5 lakh will be given as compensation to the families of those who got killed in Bodo movement.
8. Under 6^th schedule of constitution, commission will be set up to which will include the villages close to BTAD.
9. New name of BTAD will be BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region).
10. There will be review of functioning modes and powers of Bodoland territorial council (BTC).
11. Assam government will set up a separate department for resolving issues of BTC.
12. There are provisons related to surrender and rehabilitation of NDFB members.
13. Assam government will provide Rs 250 Cr annually for three years to BTC for development.
14. A joint review committee will be set up comprised of central home ministry, Assam government, BTC and Bodo organizations.

Conclusion

Bodo Agreement is an effort to solve Bodo issue and end more than 50 years old dispute and violence. It is hopeful that agreement will help to conserve Bodo identity and culture while maintaining peace and unity of Assam.

See Other Posts: Bru-Reang Refugee Crisis, Issue of Nagaland