The Non-Bodo Suraksha Samittee (NBSS), a body comprising non-Bodo people living in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), on Sunday, termed the state government’s resolution of declaring the Assamese language as “state language”, excluding Barak valley, BTAD and hill districts, as divisive.

On Saturday, the state cabinet resolved that the Centre, by amending the Constitution, may declare Assamese as the state language excluding Barak Valley, BTAD and the hill districts.

An official communiqué said that the state government would also bring a legislation in next Assembly session, making Assamese language a compulsory subject in all English and vernacular medium schools. However, this law will not apply to the hill districts, BTAD and Barak Valley, the statement added.

Madhab Rajbongshi, general secretary of NBSS, said, “Why exclude BTAD, Barak valley and hill districts? Aren’t these places inside Assam? What about the rights of Assamese-speaking people living in these areas? The decision is clearly divisive and we demand the state government to review it.”

The Samittee considered that exclusion of the Barak valley, BTAD and hill districts from the purview of the law would only bring a sense of alienation among the Assamese-speaking population living in these areas. “The Samittee strongly condemns the decision,” added NBSS president Lalit Hemrom.

The Samittee also announced a 24-hour Assam bandh from 5am on Tuesday against the state government’s decision. Besides emergency services, the NBSS also exempted anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests during the bandh. It also announced a massive public rally on December 27 at Musalpur area of Baksa.