On many occasions, I spoken a lot about the agony and tragedy of the Bodo people and other sections living within the proposed `Bodoland' territory. I may not be given much time today. So, I shall be brief. I would like to point out only certain major aspects. I do not like to go into the other points which are related to the other States of the North-Eastern region since some of my friends have already mentioned them.
Now I will explain why some elements of insurgency and militancy have emerged within the `Bodoland' territory also.
The Bodo Accord was signed on 20th February, 1993 during the Congress regime led by Shri Narasimha Rao. That Accord has not been implemented. That Bodo Accord has totally failed to fulfil the genuine hopes and aspirations of the Bodo people because of the negligence and apathetic attitude of the Government of India and the Government of Assam. In spite of that Accord, a lot of innocent Bodo boys, fathers and brothers were killed. Between 1993 and tyoday, around five hundred Bodo people were killed either by the security personnel or by some Bodo militant activists and other extremist elements. That is why I would like to appeal to the Government of India to take a very very clear cut and positive policy decision for resolving the burning Bodoland tangle. A solution could be found to this problem only by granting a separate State of Bodoland within the Indian Union on the lines of Uttranchal, Vananchal and Chattisgarh.
Here again, I would like to appeal to the Government of India to implement article 244 (a) of the Constitution of India in the case of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills for creation of a separate autonomous State. The Bodo Cacharis of Karbi Anglong have to be included in the Scheduled Tribe (Hills) list. Two autonomous districts have to be created on the southern bank of river Brahmaputra under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. We are being neglected, discriminated against and expolited in every manner and in every aspect. I can not find the precise words to express our tragedy There is no development, there is no industry, and there is no irrigation system, and these are no job opportunities there. All kinds of injustice, all kinds of atrocities, all kinds of betrayal, suppression and oppression are taking place in the Bodoland.
Here I would like to mention one more serious point. Most of the tribal families in Assam are now reduced to landless families. In Assam there were forty-five tribal belts and blocks. Out of these forty-five tribal belts and blocks, more than three lakh bighas of land was descheduled. The problem of landlessness, the unemployment problem and the ethnic genocide the domination, suppression; and exploitation, insecurity, atrocities and uncertainty in life and state terrorism have let the Bodoland youths to go underground. When we signed the Bodo Accord, the then Government asked us to first experiment the concept of Autonomous council with maximum autonomy. The then Government assured us of statehood if the Bodoland Autonomous council failed to fulfill the aspiration of the Bodos. Shri Rajesh Pilot himself is sitting here as witness. He had also assured us like that. I would like to appeal to the Government of India to implement the commitments and assurances made by the previous Government. Justice and secularism should not be of double standards. While the Government is conceding separate States to other regions like Uttranchal, Vananchal and Chattisgarh, then why not Bodoland?
Why did the then Government of India concede a separate Statehood to Andhra Pradesh? It was because a Gandhian sat on a fast-unto-death. Of course, he died. Because of that fact only , Andhra Pradesh was created. But in the case of Bodoland, more than 2,000 Bodo people were either killed or butchered so far either by the security forces or by some planted agent provocateurs or due to some militants' action. Then, where is the justice? Bodoland is linked with our blood. The demand for an autonomous State is linked with the blood of the people there. Until and unless, the Government of India asserts its authority in regard to Bodoland in the North-East, it can never bring permanent peace to the region. It can never bring all-round development. All these slogans and special economic packages will do nothing. They will remain mere dreams for us.
I would like to appeal to the Government of India to concede the demand of a separate State of Bodoland without any further delay. Here I would like to appeal again to the Government of India to start a meaningful political dialogue with the democratic Bodo groups and also with the interested militant sections.
Until and unless a separate state of Bodoland is created, you can never win over the minds of the Bodos. Bodos are always with the rest of the country Bodos are nationalists, they want to coexist in India as dignified Indian citizens with their district linguistic, ethnic and cultural self-identity.
I would like to appeal to all the learned hon. Members of this august House and the Government of India to share our agony and tragedy for the well-being, security and development of the North-Eastern region and of the country.
With these words, I conclude my speech.
SHRI BUTA SINGH (JALORE): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I want to seek a clarification from the hon. Minister of Home Affairs.
MR. CHAIRMAN : He will give a reply later on.
SHRI BUTA SINGH :Let me put a question.
MR. CHAIRMAN: No, no; it is a discussion under Rule 193. You can ask the question later on, that is, when he replies.
SHRI BUTA SINGH : He has raised an issue. I want to put a question.
MR. CHAIRMAN: You please ask the question at the time of his reply. I will give you a chance later on.
Why has the North-East region been deprived? Why is there insurgency? Is it because of non-development? Then, why was insurgency there in Punjab? These issues came up and we could not get a definite answer. But what is the primary thing in our country? As we are guided by the Constitution, there may be contentious issues and differences of opinion. But we should not have a fight over it as we do sometimes in this House.
Sometimes, the rules and procedure of the House are not followed. Even the established political Parties cannot be exonerated from this blame. We, the new Members of this House, always feel neglected. We have no grudge. Today also the speakers, who usually speak, made their speeches and we learnt very many things from them.
Sir, the primary duty of the hon. Home Minister today is to maintain the law and order in the country. The question of law and order, of course, primarily is the concern of the State Governments ... (Interruptions) We know that ... (Interruptions)
SHRI MOHAMMAD ALI ASHRAF FATMI (DARBHANGA): Sir, the Prasar Bharati Bill was to be taken up at 4 o'clock ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : If the hon. Members agree, then the hon. Home Minister can reply to this debate.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI MOHAMMAD ALI ASHRAF FATMI : Sir, the Prasar Bharati Bill has to be passed today... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude now.
SHRI MOHAMMAD ALI ASHRAF FATMI : You assured us that it would be taken up at 4 o'clock ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: If all the Members are interested, then the hon. Minister will reply to the debate.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI A.F. GOLAM OSMANI : Sir, I would like to request you to kindly bear with me for a few more minutes.
Sir, our main point is that what the State Government was supposed to do, could not do ... (Interruptions)
... (´ªÉ´ÉvÉÉxÉ)
SHRI A.F. GOLAM OSMANI : Sir, the time of the House could be extended ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please sit down. I am requesting all the Members from the North-Eastern region to please sit down.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI P.M. SAYEED (LAKSHADWEEP): Sir, we have been raising this issue in the BAC for taking up this discussion in the House for about two weeks ... (Interruptions) Now, if you could extend the time for discussion on this subject for another half-an-hour or 45 minutes, then a few more Members from the North-Eastern region could also participate in this discussion ... (Interruptions) It is a rare occasion ... (Interruptions) The Members from the North-Eastern region should not be denied of this opportunity ... (Interruptions)
SHRI TH. CHAOBA SINGH : Sir, it is a national issue ... (Interruptions)
SHRI A.F. GOLAM OSMANI :Sir, spare at least some time for us ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Just one minute. Let me hear Shri Jaipal Reddy.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI AMAR ROY PRADHAN (COOCHBEHAR): Sir, it is the problem of the nation ... (Interruptions)
... (´ªÉ´ÉvÉÉxÉ)
MR. CHAIRMAN: This is not the issue. Please sit down.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Now we are discussing a sensitive issue here.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI TH. CHAOBA SINGH : Please do not by-pass the issue here ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: I will give you chance. Please sit down.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI A.F. GOLAM OSMANI : Sir, I have not completed ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: I will call you later. Please sit down.
Yes, Shri Jaipal Reddy, what would you like to submit?
SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY (MAHABUBNAGAR): Sir, for the first time in many years, a debate is taking place on the North-Eastern region. Therefore, I suggest that it cannot be disrupted. Let it be completed ... (Interruptions)
... (´ªÉ´ÉvÉÉxÉ)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please take your seat. Let the House come to a consensus, then we will take it up.
... (´ªÉ´ÉvÉÉxÉ)
MR. CHAIRMAN: The hon. Member is speaking, please cooperate.
... (´ªÉ´ÉvÉÉxÉ)
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MR. CHAIRMAN : Let him first complete his speech.
SHRI A.F. GOLAM OSMANI : CRPF, BSF and other paramilitary forces were brought in to maintain law and order in Assam. We are going by stages and killings are going on. From 1993 onwards, killings are going on. There are massacre. In 1996, the AGP Government, which was always opposed to bringing in the Armed Forces, agreed to bring in the Armed Forces. To coordinate the activities of military, CRPF, BSF and other Forces, there was a Joint Command. Now, the paramilitary forces are operating there. Why are there killings? What do people say in the lower Assam districts of Barpeta, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar? The military makes a flag march and the people say that it is a fluke march as they do not go to the interiors. People ask some high officials connected with the law and order machinery in the State, how these extremists operate. They have camps in Bhutan. Respected Shri Indrajit Gupta has also said that they have camps in Bhutan. After the raids, they go away to Bhutan. Are we to understand that the Government of India is helpless to look after the border?
The other day, the Foreign Minister of Bhutan came to New Delhi and a statement came out in the newspapers that the Government is not in a position to control the extremists' camps in Bhutan. I have a feeling that perhaps the Home Ministry has been contacted to have some discussion to have a joint operation there. People still feel that there is a Government. People, being homeless, are in temporary shelters and their camps are being raided. The other day nine Santhals were gunned down in the camps. In retaliation, the Santhals killed nearly 20 persons.
I would request the hon. Home Minister to do his primary duty. How will this insurgency problem be solved politically, whether through a talk with ULFA or NSCN?... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude.
SHRI A.F. GOLAM OSMANI : I will take one minute more.
The Government should have a direct involvement and see what the forces are doing. The Government should monitor whether the law and order situation is being looked after by the forces which it has deployed there. One can hope for a political discussion only if the law and order situation is contained.
I thank you for giving me the time. I would request the hon. Home Minister to monitor whether the forces are being utilized properly or not. I wonder how these raids could take place. Innocent people are being killed and they are not able to catch hold of the extremists. With these words I conclude.
MR. CHAIRMAN: I am calling Members from the North-Eastern States.
The seeds of insurgency in the North-East were sown in the days of the British rule when the North-East was grossly neglected. They did not build any infrastructure in the region. They were confined to only a few sectors like tea gardens, mining and extraction of oil in Assam. They enacted the Bengal Eastern Frontier (Regulation) Act, 1873 which was commonly known as the Inner Line Regulation which isolated this region from the mainstream. The British were least bothered about the problems of the North-East. They did not want the outsiders to come in their way. To keep the outsiders away from this region they had adopted the Regulation Act. Only punitive expeditions were made only to serve their purpose and to see that outsiders do not harm their interests. However, this very Act has been quite effective after the Independence of the country. This very particular Act has served its purpose in many tribal areas. I wish to say that it should continue in the years to come.
As a fall out of the partition of the country in 1947, a large number of refugees from East Pakistan came and settled in the North-East which had adversely affected the demographic structure and the economy of the region. The opportunities slipping into the hands of the outsiders made the youths in the region frustrated and forced them to take to these methods.
Sir, I would only suggest one or two points for serious consideration of the the Central Government. I suggest the Central Government to invite the leaders of the banned outfits and all other political parties without any reservations, and have discussions to come to an understanding in their concept of sovereignty through a package of development assistance including their rehabilitation. It is a national problem. The Central Government should provide a realistic package of development for a speedy growth of industries, agriculture and employment opportunities through technical knowhow and expertise development activities. The Central Government should develop an efficient marketing system and put in place other requisite infrastructure so that the youths in the North-East can be brought back to the mainstream.
In respect of the State of Arunachal Pradesh, we have been approaching the Central Government for the last 15 years in regard to the refugee problem. Chakma and Haajam refugees had come in large numbers from Bangladesh in the year 1964. However, no positive step has been taken by the Central Government in this regard.