The Hindu : Bodoland Council sworn in

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 08, 2003

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Bodoland Council sworn in

By Barun Das Gupta

Kokrajhar (Assam) Dec. 7. The man once hunted by the security forces for ``waging war'' against the State, today pledged to ``uphold the Constitution and the sovereignty and integrity of India.''

Hagrama Mahilary (till yesterday known by his assumed surname, Basumatary), `commander-in-chief' of the now-dissolved Bodoland Liberation Tigers (BLT), was sworn in as the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

Chandan Brahma was also sworn in the Deputy CEM and 10 others as executive members.

The Commissioner of Lower Assam Division, Emily Choudhary, administered the oath of office.

The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, who flew in from Delhi to inaugurate the BTC, said the development of Bodoland would be the special responsibility of the Union Government.

Addressing the gathering on the Kokrajhar campus of the Gauhati University at Deborgaon, seven km from here, he said not only would the Centre honour all the commitments made under the BTC

Accord of March 18, 1993, but would do a lot more.

Earlier, Mr. Advani laid the foundation stone for a Central Institute of Technology (CIT) at Debargaon and the secretariat complex of the BTC at Balagaon.

Mr. Advani said the Assam Government and the Centre would together arrange for employment of the surrendered cadres of the BLT.

The Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, said he had requested Mr. Advani to undertake a special employment generation programme for the State, as unemployment was the main cause of insurgency.

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Bodoland Council sworn in