Skip to content Skip to navigation

Dilemma for Bodo voters

By Hantigiri Narzary |

Many voters in Bodo belts are likely to face hardship in reading the name of the candidates when they come to exercise their franchise on April 24 in the third phase election in the state. The EVM machines have candidates name written only Assamese language apart from the symbol of the respective candidates.

“It is very unfortunate that the EVM machines did not have Bodo language to identify the candidates where it is in the 8th scheduled and one of the associate official languages in Assam. How would a voters coming from Bodo medium or non-Assamese medium background who cannot read and write Assamese identify the candidates name”, said a local intellectual in Kokrajhar.

‘Voters should have prior knowledge about their candidates’ names and symbols while exercising their franchise, he said. The Bodo language is included as the 8th scheduled language in the constitution of India and one of the associate official languages of Assam, so the Bodo language should have been given equal importance for the benefits for the voters in Bodoland region.

Bodo Sahitya Sabha General Secretary, Kamala Kanta Muchahary criticize the government for step motherly attitude towards the Bodo language saying the Bodo language is still discriminated by the government though it is associate official language of Assam and one of the 8th scheduled languages.

He said that BTC administration and Bodo representatives in the state Assembly and parliament have not taken initiative to include the Bodo language in the voters list and EVM machines like Assamese.

“It’s a shame that the Bodo language is not being used in the Bodo dominated areas by the government”, he rued.

He said that Bodo voters coming from Bodo or non Assamese medium background will have hardtime identifying the names of the candidates while exercising their franchise.

Muchahary also said that the government is trying to sabotage the Bodo voters by not using the Bodo language in voters list and EVM machines.  He has also urged the BTC administration, Bodo MLAs and MPs to take initiative to include the Bodo language in voters list and EVM machines.

Menwhile, Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Nitin Khade said that there are 10 to 15 languages in Assam. He also said that it was the direction of the Election Commission of India as per rule of the law.

 

Add new comment

Random Stories

Voters awareness campaign by specially abled people in Udalguri

30 Mar 2016 - 6:53pm | Jayanta Kumar Das
Media Cell of Udalguri district under SVEEP programme had taken a special initiative to educate and create awareness among people to excercise their voting rights.Accordingly a unique and special...

Charaipung tense even after Roy's visit

27 Aug 2010 - 4:03am | editor
Tension still grips Charaipung area when armed miscreants set on fire 3 more houses where a widow and pregnant woman along with her three children had a narrow escape. This string of fresh...

5 ultras surrender in Karbi Anglong

23 Apr 2008 - 4:19am | editor
Five ultras including a hardcore ULFA cadre have surrendered before the authorities in Karbi Anglong district just before a while. According to information, 4 KLNLF insurgenta and an ULFA cadre...

Prestigious national award for Akhil Gogoi

27 Mar 2008 - 5:40pm | editor
Noted young social worker Akhil Gogoi has been nominated for the coveted Second National Manjunath Swanmugam Integrity Award for his relentless work for transparency in public life and government...

Other Contents by Author

AIUDF leaders demand early declaration of candidates

The party leader and workers of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) of Kokrajhar east (No.30) constituency  committee urged the central committee to declare Manu Borgoyary’s  name as candidate in immediate to pave way party working in the constituency to contest scheduled second phase assembly election on April 11 next.

RMC suspends its president

The Religious Minority Council (RMC), BTC region has suspended Sohrab Khan, president of the council for his anti organization activities.  An emergent central executive meeting of the council was held today at Magurmari with Gulzar Hussain Mallah, working president of the council in the chair in Kokrajhar district where delegates attended from 10 district committees of the BTAD. The council thoroughly discussed about the prevailing situation and resolved three resolutions which included supports continue to BPF party, making social uplift among common publics, suspension of Khan from organization for his anti-organisation activities.  During the meeting, existing working...

NDFB-S link men arrested

Security forces have intensified their combing operation against militant outfits in the region.  Three link men/over ground worker of the National Democratic Front of Boroland-Songbijit faction were apprehended by security forces in a joint operation at Ripu Reserve Forest on Sunday morning in Kokrajhar district. They were identified Sanjib Basumatary, Mirga Basumatary and Charan Basumatary. They were involved with extortion, collecting money and providing information to militants about movement of security forces. Three riffles, two live bullets and a mobile handset were recovered from their possession.  Security forces have launching combing operation against militant outfit...

Fakiragram bazar turn into ashes

Over 15 shops along the Fakiragram main Bazar in Lower Assam’s Kokrajhar district have turned into ashes.  The fire damaged worth of nearly 50 lakhs properties following fire in gutted on Friday late night. Various types of shops in the bazar which included medical store,hardware,clothes,grocery,stationary,fruits were completely burnt in the fire that started around 12.45 am in the last night. Just after the seeing of fire,local peoples informed to Fakiragram PS and fire service authority about incident,but nearly 45 minutes late four fire tender service rushed the spot and two hours trying, the fire was come under control when the properties have completely ruined.The fire was...

Businessman attacked

A businessman was hospitalized after attacked with sharp weapon by miscreants at Champa bazaar area on Friday evening in Kokrajhar district. He was identified as Tamizaddin Anza ri (32) of Mozabari area. He was immediately rushed to Kokrajhar RNB civil hospital and stated to be critical. Details is awaited. 

Vehicular thief arrested

Salakati police in Kokrajhar district arrested a vehicular thief late last night at Salakati rail track.  He was identified as Naba Das of Belsar in Nalbari district, who was involved with stealing of a four wheeler Mahindra pick up van bearing registration AS-16C-2207. An FIR was registered no.138/16 with Salakati police outpost in this connection, under section (u/s) 457/380/411 IPC. 

KLO ultra held

In a joint operation launched by the security forces from Assam Police and Army apprehended a cadre of Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) at Salakati village under Kokrajhar PS on Friday.  He was identified as Sonaram Roy of Balagaon area of Kokrajhar district. He was involved with extortion and money collection, besides working to recruit new members for the organization.  An AK-47 riffle, two live bullet and a mobile handset was recovered from. 

Mock drill in Kokrajhar

An emergency response mock drill was conducted by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) at Habrubari in Kokrajhar district on Friday,which was a part of offsite emergency mock on the IOCL Guwahati-Siliguri underground pipeline to test the preparedness of its emergency personnel. A live fire fighting exercise was carried out alongside the drill by Fire and Rescue Services personnel. The mock drill started with hooting of the emergency siren where all official and IOCL employees were seen rushing to the spot and they combated the fire. The fire combat team also joined and the fire was brought under control after 40-minutes. The clear signal and siren was blown. Thereafter, the combating...

RMC on crack over party supports

Cracks appeared in the Religious Minority Council(RMC),BTC region over the issue of supporting to the Bodoland Peoples Front(BPF) party in the ensuing Assam assembly election.The rift appeared in the council after president Sohrab Khan announced openly that RMC leaves to support the BPF party in the election. Speaking the reporters on Friday at Kokrajhar Press Club,Rijaul Haque Sarkar,general secretary of the RMC told that the council has not been left the BPF party.We are still with BPF party,who was working all round development and welfare of the region.The reaction come after the Khan addressed the reporters at Kajalgaon in Chirang district on Thursday that RMC announced to leave the...

Election training programme in Chirang

The Chirang Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Rupak Kumar Mazumdar on Thursday chaired a meeting cum training programme with all team members, designated to oversee various aspects of election expenditures during election process in the district. Along with assigned officials for video surveillance, video viewing, accounting, complaint monitoring, media certification and the Nodal Officer of Election Expenditure Monitoring cell ADC Dasarath Das, EO Rajiv Kumar Das, ACs Dhrubajyati Das, Jitu Kumar Barman and Dipak Khanikar were present in the meeting. Mazumdar, addressing the officials strictly instructed all to implement the expenditure monitoring mechanism putting all...