New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma paid tribute to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, the esteemed leader and activist of the Bodo community and praised his lifelong dedication to preserving the culture, self-determination, and identity of the Bodo people.
“Bodofa Upendranath Brahma led a non-violent movement inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and fought valiantly for the rights of his people,” Sarma said. The Assam Chief Minister also stated that a prominent road has been named in his honour, and a statue commemorating his legacy was unveiled here in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj and others.
Addressing the gathering, Assam CM Sarma said, “It is a proud day for Assam today. Bodofa Brahma dedicated his life to preserving the culture, self-determination, and identity of the Bodo people. He led a non-violent movement inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and fought valiantly for the rights of his people,” Sarma said.
CM Sarma said that a turbulent demand for a separate Bodoland once threatened to divide the state of Assam. However, the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord, initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, ushered in a new era of peace and reconciliation for the region.
“This honour is not just for Bodofa Brahma, but for the entire Bodo community who stood resilient and believed in democratic struggle,” Sarma added.
CM Sarma, in a post on X, said he was ‘privileged’ to join Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital to unveil the statue and dedicate a prominent road in honour of activist Bodofa Upendranath Brahma.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the road and statue to honour the legacy of Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, reiterated the Centre’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, stating that the fight against the menace will continue until terrorism is completely eradicated.
“Terrorists should not think that they have achieved their big victory. This fight is not over yet. Chun chun ke badla lenge (we will take revenge on all terrorists),” Shah said while addressing an event in the national capital.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Shah said that the Modi government is committed to eliminating terrorism from every part of the country.
“Har vyakti ko chun chun ke jawab bhi milega, jawab bhi diya jayega…” “This is the Narendra Modi government; no one will be spared. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country, and it will be accomplished…,” said the Union Minister.
“If someone thinks that by their cowardly attack they have their big victory, then understand one thing, this is the Narendra Modi government, no one will be spared. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country, and it will be accomplished. In this fight, not only 140 crore Indians but the whole world is standing with India. All the countries of the world have come together and are standing with the people of India in this fight against terrorism. I want to reiterate the resolve that until terrorism is eradicated, our fight will continue and those who have committed it will certainly be given appropriate punishment,” Home Minister Shah said.
Shah said the central government has followed a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism in Kashmir since the 1990s and warned that those responsible for the Pahalgam attacks will face a strong response.
“Today, I want to tell the public that we have been fighting strongly on the policy of zero tolerance against those who have been running terrorism in Kashmir since the 90s. Today, they (terrorists) should not think that they have won the battle by taking the lives of our citizens. I want to tell all those who spread terror that this is not the end of the battle; every person will be given a befitting reply,” Shah said.
Tension escalated between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. The government has said that the terrorists responsible for the attack and the conspirators behind it will face severe punishment.
The government has announced a series of measures, including putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, to send a strong message to Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism. (With inputs from ANI)
