Brahma, who was addressing a rally organised by the ABSU here, said that creation of a separate state for Bodo tribals was the only solution to bring an end to tension and under-development in the state. ``We are firm on our demand. A separate state must be carved out for us, else the tribals will continue to be discriminated against,'' ABSU president said.

He said that negotiations at the political level was the only way to thrash out the problem leading to creation of a separate Bodoland, adding that it was of no use talking to the government at the bureaucratic level. Brahma was referring to the tripartite talks being organised by the Union Home Ministry on Monday in Delhi, and said that though the ABSU and its allies would attend it, ``we are basically going there to register our demand for talking at thepolitical level.''

He said the ABSU delegation to the tripartite meeting might even chose to walk out of it if the government talked of strengthening the existing Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC), which the major Bodo groups have virtually derecognised.