Guwahati: An all-party meeting, convened by the Assam government on December 16 to discuss the draft proposal of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), sought extension of the ceasefire with the Bodoland Liberation Tiger (BLT) for another one month.

The all-party meeting, chaired by the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, resolved that the ongoing ceasefire with the BLT, which expires on December 21 2002, be extended for another month to facilitate the process of formation of the BTC.

The BLT is currently on negotiation with the government and is a party to discussion on BTC formation.

The party leaders sought more time to study the draft proposal to be signed between the Centre, state government and the BLT, which would pave the way for the formation of the BTC.

"The leaders were of the opinion that some more time would be needed to study the documents, particularly regarding safeguards of the non-tribals to reside in the proposed BTC area," the member of the Cabinet sub-committee on BTC and senior minister, Bharat Narah, told reporters in Guwahati.

The leaders also wanted to scrutinise the list of the additional 93 villages sought by the BLT to be included into the BTC area.

The meet, attended by members from the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad), BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) among others discussed in general the draft proposal for the BTC, Narah said.

PTI