Kokrajhar MP Naba Kumar Sarania wants the Centre to ensure protection of constitutional rights of the non-tribal population of Assam while signing the “final pact” with the Saoraigwra faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland.

The NDFB (S) has recently signed a tripartite suspension of operations agreement with the Centre and the Assam government, signalling an end to the anti-talks NDFB factions.

The outfit decided to shun violence and joined the peace process by agreeing to become a signatory to a proposed “comprehensive” memorandum of settlement (MoS).

The truce is believed to be pivotal in installing peace in areas under the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) which will go to the polls likely within April.

Sarania told this correspondent, “We want the Union home ministry to consider the rights of the non-Bodo population living in the BTC area while signing the pact. The Centre must ensure that this pact needs to be the ‘final’ truce in solving the issues with the Bodo community. Already the BTC was formed to address militancy in the region and uplift the tribal community. But already there are allegations of violations of rights of the non-Bodos in the council area. Therefore, we want the Centre not to make the same mistake and to end this matter for good.”

On February 10, 2003, the Centre, the Assam government and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), a militant outfit, had signed an MoS on the BTC. The objective of the agreement was to create an autonomous self-governing body to be known as BTC within the state to provide constitutional protection under the Sixth Schedule.

After discussing multiple numbers of non-Bodo organisations of the BTC, Sarania on Sunday decided to lead a delegation of non-Bodo groups to Delhi soon to convey their concerns to Union home minister Amit Shah. An appointment has already been sought from Shah’s office.

“We have opted for a wait-and-watch policy till the pact is signed. We believe the government will address everyone’s concerns,” Sarania said categorically.

He claimed that the people of BTC had decided to reject the Hagrama Mohilary-led council. “Let the polls happen and everything will be clear,” Sarania added.

He claims to represent the non-Bodo people of the region. Under Sarania’s leadership the People’s Protection Party of Assam (PPPA) was formed in September last year.