Guwahati, Jan 29: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday expressed optimism that the Centre will bring forward the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill during the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament. The proposed amendment aims to grant more powers to tribal autonomous councils, including the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in Assam.
Speaking at an event marking the fifth anniversary of the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord, Sarma stated that both the Assam government and the BTC leadership, led by BTC Chief Pramod Boro, are hopeful of a positive outcome in the upcoming session. He confirmed that discussions in the Standing Committee have been completed and that the state government strongly supports the amendment.
Introduced in 2019, the 125th Amendment Bill seeks to modify provisions related to the Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which governs the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), which is governed under the Sixth Schedule, consists of five districts and is home to over 31 lakh people, primarily from the Bodo community.
Sarma also discussed the development of the BTR, noting that while funding is not an issue, a balanced approach to progress is crucial. He emphasized that the BTR has remained peaceful since the 2020 peace agreement, with no insurgent activities or significant unrest.
When asked about political alliances in the region, Sarma suggested that the state BJP president and BTC Chief Boro will decide the party’s strategy for the upcoming elections. He emphasized that the BJP’s approach is to respect tribal autonomy and avoid interfering in local governance.
On border security, Sarma reassured that Assam is highly vigilant about potential infiltration from Bangladesh and stressed that there is no local support for insurgency in the state. He also discussed the need for sensitivity in engaging with tribal communities regarding industrial development in the BTR, particularly concerning land rights.
