The Centre on Tuesday confirmed the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the thanksgiving ceremony for signing of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Accord in Kokrajhar on Friday.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall be visiting Kokrajhar in Assam, to participate in the celebrations of the signing of the Bodo Agreement, on February 7, 2020,” said a government statement.
The distance between Guwahati and Kokrajhar is around 210km.
Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi on Tuesday announced a public holiday in the four BTAD districts on February 7.
Modi was supposed to visit Assam in December last year for an Indian-Japan summit but the event was cancelled because of protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
The thanksgiving ceremony has been jointly organised by the All Bodo Students’ Union (Absu), four factions of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) authority.
While Absu said they were fully prepared to welcome Modi, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, one of the organisations spearheading the anti-CAA movement, said they would protest against Modi’s visit.
State cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary visited the venue of the programme on Tuesday to take stock of the preparedness. They were flanked by state ministers Chandan Brahma and Pijush Hazarika, Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary, Absu general secretary Lawrence Islary, other BTC members and senior officials.
Sarma told reporters that the “massive” preparation for Modi’s programme was going on in “full swing”.
The construction of three helipads near the main pandal is almost complete, barricades are being put up, the roads leading to Kokrajhar town are being repaired and the railway crossing flyover near the venue is being painted.
A meeting with Special Protection Group was held for Modi’s security and massive police and security personnel have been deployed at the venue. Special trains will be run too.
“Four special trains from Rangapara town in Sonitpur district will be run to Kokrajhar via Rowta, Udalguri and Tongla in Udalguri district and Rangia in Kamrup rural district. Arrangements have been made so that people will be able to come and participate in the programme,” he said.
Sarma said around one lakh BJP supporters will participate in the programme where the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), Absu and four factions of the NDFB will also bring their supporters.
Islary told reporters that they were fully prepared to welcome Modi.
He appealed to all the communities living in the BTC-governed Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) to join the celebration.
“After passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, neither Modi nor other ministers are welcomed in Assam. We will protest against his visit,” AJYCP general secretary Palash Changmai said.
Additional reporting by a staff reporter in Guwahati
