?Temple land will be freed from illegal immigrants?, reiterates Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam government, led by Bhartiya Janata Party, remains committed to protect the land, identity, culture, language and heritage from the aggressors and illegal migrants. State chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated on Monday that the land areas of Satras (Vaishnavite monastery) and temples would be completely freed from the encroachers at the earliest.

Sarma, while visiting Gorukhuti in Sipajhar locality of Darrang district, inspected the riverine areas which were encroached by illegal settlers (read Bangladeshi Muslim migrants) near Dholpur Shiva temple atop a hillock. He appreciated the district authority for recovering a total of 120 bigha land, belonged to the temple committee, from the clutches of illegal occupants.

Saying that all steps would be taken to preserve and protect the historic Shiva temple, Sarma also promised the committee for necessary aids to construct a Manikut, a guest house and boundary walls of the temple. He called on all sections of people, cutting across religious beliefs, to join hands with the government in making the temple a place of tourist attraction, while preserving its sanctity.

Meanwhile, in a review meeting of BTR Accord, the government approved a rehabilitation program for 4036 NDFB cadres involving rupees 160 crore. The rehabilitation program for the rebels would be conceptualised and designed by the BTC in association with the State Institute for panchayat and rural development.

Under it, the skill development training would be imparted to those cadres in several parts of BTR for their socio-economic empowerments. In presence of State plain tribes and backward classes (only BTC) welfare minister Urkhao Gwra Brahma, BTC chief Pramod Boro with several other executive members, the meeting resolved to help the council to enable the BTR accord singed on 27 January 2020.

CM Sarma in the meeting advocated to promote and build a social empowerment narrative around Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma’s philosophy for the Bodo people. He also directed to expeditiously complete the construction of Bodofa memorial cultural complex cum centre of excellence along with other projects associated with the pride and prestige of the Bodos.