One of Assam’s 14 Lok Sabha members has sought a social organisation modelled on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for safeguarding the interests of non-Bodo communities living in areas under the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
The 8,795 sq km BTC, covering four districts of western and north-central Assam, was created primarily for the Bodos – the largest plains tribe of the State – in February 2003. The Bodos are about 34% of the total population in the council, while 19 non-Bodo communities together account for the rest.
The non-Bodos, accusing the BTC leadership of discrimination, have since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls come together to elect Naba Sarania to Parliament twice by a huge margin.
“We have a plan to form a party. We want it to be as organised and dedicated cadre-based as the RSS,” Mr Sarania told The Hindu on Wednesday.
“Don’t get me wrong. We have no interest in the RSS ideology, but one has to appreciate the level of commitment of most of the Sangh’s members and the organisation’s networking. Decades ago, did anyone think the RSS would be virtually controlling the country one day” he said.
The MP had taken the decision to form a political party during a workshop of the Non-Bodo Suraksha Samiti from August 17-19. The name of this organisation translates into Committee for Protection of the Non-Bodos.
“Strengthening the base of the party would be the responsibility of an organisation that makes various communities – Adivasi, Bengali Bihari, Koch-Rajbongshis, Nepali, Muslims and smaller tribes – unite for defending their social, cultural, political and economic interests,” Mr Sarania said.
His party to be has targeted 35 of the maximum 40 seats in the BTC elections in 2020.
