Guwahati, Sept. 12: The entire Bodo belt oscillated between hope and apprehension on the eve of an inter-ministerial meeting of key Central government departments to be held by deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani in New Delhi tomorrow to discuss the issue of creation of the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

While Bodo leaders were pinning their hopes on assurances given by Advani to a delegation of the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) on Tuesday regarding creation of the proposed territory, they were also apprehensive that if no concrete decision is taken at tomorrow’s meeting then it would be difficult on their part to explain the situation to grassroots-level workers.

The non-Bodo leaders, on the other hand, were resting their hopes on the confusion that the state government was yet to give its go-ahead to the Centre’s draft proposal on creation of the new administrative body under the Sixth Schedule. However, with the Centre pushing the ball to the state government’s court, they were apprehensive that the Union council of ministers may give its approval to the BTC’s formation.

While the All-Bodo Students’ Union (Absu) has threatened to revive the statehood movement if a concrete announcement is not made by the Centre regarding creation of the proposed BTC, the Sanmilita Janagoshthiya Sangram Samiti (SJSS) — a platform of 18 non-Bodo organisations — has called a 36-hour rail blockade in the state to oppose the BTC creation.

The BLT delegation, which had called on Advani on Tuesday in Delhi, also expressed concern over the delay in solving the Bodo problem.

Publicity secretary of the militant outfit, Mainao Daimari, later said that Advani had ordered his officials to look into the matter seriously. He added that the outfit would be compelled to take its own decision if talks were delayed further.