Assam chief minister rejects separate Bodoland demand
By IANSSunday, January 31, 2010
GUWAHATI - Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Sunday rejected the demand for a separate Bodoland state and instead advocated the need for a greater Assamese society where people of all communities live together.
“I would say we should live together instead of trying to further fragment the state. Other genuine grievances and demands of the Bodo people could be resolved through discussions,” the chief minister told journalists.
Gogoi said this in the western town of Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district after attending the open session of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha, the apex literary body of the tribal Bodo community.
“Lot of people raise their demands, but they don’t get it. Even we demand lot of things from the central government but never get it,” Gogoi said.
Several Bodo social and political groups have raised their demand for a separate Bodoland state after the Telangana statehood demand came to the fore.
The chief minister once again reiterated the government’s appeal asking militant groups in the state to come forward for peace talks.
“Our doors for peace talks are open. Let the militant groups first shun violence and lay down arms,” Gogoi said.
