Badruddin Ajmal fuelling violence in lower Assam:BPPF

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Aug 12: Bodoland People’s Progressive Front (BPPF) today slammed the President of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) Badruddin Ajmal for inciting the people to continue the unrest in lower Assam districts. BPPF held Ajmal responsible for further complicating the situation by airing communal comments.

 “Communal comments given by Ajmal has affected the unity and integrity of the people of the region” said Rabiram Narzary, president of the BPPF, in a press conference held at the party office on Sunday . He said Ajmal was elected by both Hindu and Muslim voters from Dhubri seat in the parliament and being a parliamentarian, he should work with a secular mind but instead he is being biased and raised voice only for a particular community, airing provocative statement. Narzary said the communal violence is not related to BTC accord and there is no question of scrapping it as demanded by Ajmal. “The demand for scrapping of BTC accord is a sentimental issue because it was created with the supreme sacrifice of thousands of Bodo people and if somebody feels the discrimination, they should raise voice against the ruling party and the State Government”, Narzary said.  He also added that the Bodos would stand united against any force that demands the scrapping of BTC till the last. He also said the Bodos are not against the interest of any community but it has been demanding for its legitimate rights for safeguarding of its identity and survival.

Narzary welcomed the proposal of State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to call for a judicial inquiry into the violence in lower Assam to find out the root cause. He said the attacks on Northeastern people in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Pune were unfortunate and condemnable. He also said that the government should ensure safety and security to the students and workers in different profession living in south Indian cities. He further urged the Union Home Minister to take precautionary measures for the people of Northeast, particularly the students.

The BPPF also demanded the replacement of Special Director, CBI (Guwahati Zone) K Salem Ali who is heading the probe in lower Assam districts with other neutral officer belonging to neither Bodo nor Muslim so that an impartial inquiry could be conducted. Narzary said the party has never said all muslims are foreigners, but BTC being a part of the State, the illegal immigrants are definitely there and so there should be proper identification before settling the camp inmates in their respective homes.

Former Rajya Sabha MP, UB Brahma said AIUDF Supremo Badruddin Ajmol who held an ambition of becoming the leader of the State should have broad outlook instead of confining to a particular community and inciteing the people to go for uprising against the indigenous people who are the son of the soil. He said his comments are hurting the sentiment of indigenous people of the State and the region. He also said Ajmol is trying to keep the violence alive by inciting the people of suspected nationalities for his political gain.

Brahma said the rehabilitation on the basis of ration card, electricity bill as promised by AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh is not at all acceptable. He said the rehabilitation of camp inmates is related to land but the land issue is not related to voter list and so voter list would not suffice to claim the land. “If State government has been saying that there are over 80,000 legal migrants in Assam who are in missing report then who can say that there is no illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam?,” Brahma questioned. He also said the vigilance of BSF should be doubled to check cross border infiltration. “If the people of a particular community can cross the border with cattles in to Bangladesh for business then what is the trouble for the people to cross over border to India? ,”Brahma put another question.

Brahma also said the government of India has sent members of Minority Commission of India but not the members of National Commission for SC and ST to the trouble torn areas to ascertain the veracity of the violence. It is partiality of the government of India, he added.

Independence Day down the years

From our Staff Reporter                                                                      

DIBRUGARH, Aug 12: India gained her independence after a long struggle and sacrifice of numerous people. More than six decades after the momentous event, the day evokes associations that vary with the people of different generations. To understand the changing connotations, The Sentinel spoke to three ladies of the same family to find out their take on Independence Day and its celebration.

Nirupama Phukan, winner of Sahitya Akademi Award for her translation of Godaan to Assamese in 1999, was an witness to the freedom struggle and was close to freedom fighters, among them being her uncle, historian Benudhar Sarma. She used to hoist the flag at home on Republic Day and Independence Day without fail. The writer, who is also known as Anubaad Kouwari, recalls, “We used to go and take part in the celebrations. The euphoria of having won freedom from foreign rule still fresh among the people. They spontaneously came forward to observe the two occasions and the celebrations were fuelled by their enthusiasm rather than being led by the government machinery.” Many freedom fighters were still alive and the sacrifice made by them and others were still fresh in the minds of all. Participating in the observance of the Independence Day was truly a celebration rather than a compulsion, which is what it has become for many now.

The daughter of Phukan, Kalpana Khound, who teaches English in DHSK Commerce College, has good memories of Independence Day celebration too. “As a student of Little Flower School, I remember taking part in the march-past. We really used to look forward for the day.” Students of private and government schools came together and met during the celebration, providing them a common ground and gave them a sense of belonging, she added. The college teacher felt that the young generation has missed out on it due to insurgency, as the celebration became low key during the period. She remarked how the tradition of English medium schools taking part in the celebration has disappeared. “At the multiplexes, people walk about when the National Anthem is being played before a movie, oblivious to the fact that we should show respect to it. Having national pride is very important and celebrating Independence Day is one way of drilling it into the citizens. The youths are not connected to their roots.” Khound also thought the removal of history from school curriculum has caused further disassociation of the present generation with their national heritage. To illustrate their ignorance about the freedom struggle, which has inspired world leaders, she narrated how only one of her undergraduate students in a particular class knew where Kalapani is located.

Supriya Khound, who did her post graduation in Social Policy and Development Studies from London School of Economics and is the grand daughter of Nirupama Phukan, said that Independence Day meant holiday as a school student. “For me, the celebration of Independence Day came very late. When I went to New Delhi , I saw for the first time how the day is observed with festivities. People fly kites.” Yet the former student of Lady Shri Ram College did wonder as a young girl why Independence Day was not celebrated in Assam since she had seen the kind of fervour it is observed with in other countries during the course of her extensive travels. “The fourth of July is observed in such a grand manner in USA . In Vietnam where I worked for sometime, the celebration spans almost a week. When I was growing up, people were scared to step out of their houses on Independance Day. Seeing such fear is not a nice feeling.” Having been a part of the festivities of Independence Day in the country’s capital, the 24-year old does not want to miss out on it any more. “Now whenever it is Independence Day, I want to be out of the state,” she added with a laugh.

Minority planning commission submits recommendations

From our Correspondent

GOSSAIGAON, Aug 12: The Minority Planning Commission Government of India headed by its chairman Sahida Hanmid visited the arson affected areas and minority relief camp of Chirang, Baska and Kokrajhar districts of BTAD on Saturday and took the stock of the situation and the condition of the inmates in the relief camps. The MPC chairman, while visiting the relief camps in various places interacted with the victims. Shahida Hamid, the MPC chairperson after visiting several relief camps left for Dhubri district on Saturday evening. A memorandum and charter of demands by the minorities living in Kokrajhar district was submitted to the MPC  Chairpeerson during her visit. Stating that about 3 lakh minority population who are worstly affected are deprived of education, health, drinking water, electricity, family welfare, sanitation etc due to the ongoing ethnic clash and among these about 75 thousand population are living under sub-human conditions in Gossaigaon sub-division, Their demands were (i). To set up model schools, colleges and vocational institutions (ii) To establish Rural Dispensary under each panchayat (iii) To create job avenue for the educated youths (iv) To set up vocational currency institutions for the minorities women (v) To construct houses for the homeless families (vi) To provide subsides loan facility to the minority educated unemployed youths to strength  micro finance and to establish Small Scale Rural Industries. (vii) To provide minority scholarship through institutions like schools and college directly (viii) To construct community Hall in each Panchayat level area to organize conferences seminars and community meetings its.

Doctor illegally occupying Jorhat veterinary guest house

From our Correspondent

BONGAIGAON,Aug12: Due to total lack of administration in the veterinary department of Jorhat, a section of employees have indulged in private practice during office hours. They are not even scared to encroach on the departmental guest house. According to the allegation received the guest house of the Veterinary department at Jorhat located in Lichubari at South Jorhat which was constructed for lodging of the departmental employees when they came to Jorhat for official works so that expenditure on the tour to Jorhat could be minimized as well as an amount of revenue would be earned. But due to total negligence of administrative control in the Jorhat Veterinary department one veterinary doctor working at Kalbari veterinary Hospital at West Jorhat has illegally occupied this guest house as his residence to facilitate his children for studying in nearby schools. It is note worthy that the occupying doctor's service is not associated with that area as well as the campus. As a result of which the other employees of the department  have been deprived of getting the facility of the guest house and they have to spend money for putting up in private lodges. Besides if this guest house would be opened for the employees, the veterinary department would be able to earn revenue from this guest house in return. The higher authorities are well aware of the encroachment, but due to total neglect and lack of proper administration, a section of employees misuse the government money and regulations. Moreover there has also been complains on the irregularity of duty by a section of veterinary field assistants. A section of field assistants devote maximum time in doing private field works resulting in the death of several animals due to negligence. In a recent case after the death of a pet dog died due to the negligence by a veterinary doctor, instead the owner of the pet dog was arrested. The local people have raised a complain in this regard and demanded a strict enquiry by the administration into this State veterinary hospital for the interest of the farmesr.

Relief camp inmates detected with malaria

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Aug 12: 10 inmates of the violence affected relief camps  were detected with malaria at Shukanjhora ME school relief camp under Fakiragram police station. “Thousands of violence affected people from Parowgura, Fakiragram, Monakocha and Karida Sandla villages are still taking shelter in Shukanjhora ME school since July 22 last and are facing acute shortage of medicines, sanitation and shelter” said an inmate of the camp.

Dr Arnab Kalita, a visiting doctor from Guwahati Medical College and Hospital in Kokrajhar relief camp said the health department has been serving the camp inmates in accordance with  the instructions given to them for quick recovery of health problems of the inmates and common public. He said there three doctors from GMCH, three MPWs and one SW are providing health service at Shukanjhora camp since last two days and Sunday was the second day of the medical staff. He said the inmates were mostly affected with  malaria and till Sunday as many as 10 inmates were detected malaria  positive inside the camp and have been referred to Kokrajhar Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital for better treatment. Dr Kalita said that they were providing necessary medical facilities to the inmates whenever it required from health department and the medical teams are providing round the clock service. An elder women at the camp said most of the inmates have been sufferingb from fever of health problems since few days back at the camp. They expressed the hope that the concerned department would provide regular medical services at the camps.

Jorhat ASSU felicitates meritorious students

From our Correspondent
JORHAT,Aug 12 : All Assam Student Union Jorhat district Committee felicitated the meritorious students of the district on Sunday at JB College. President of ASSU Jorhat district committee, Biren Saikia presided over the function  which was formally inaugurated by Dr Bimal Bora,Principal JB College. 800 students from Jorhat district, who passed HSLC and Higher Secondary examinations with star or distinctions marks, were felicitated. The Basin Manager ONGC, SK Jain attended the function as chief guest along with other guests Kamal Jyoti Gogoi the Inspector of School, the Asstt General Secretary Central Committee ASSU Nilufer Rahman and the Executive member of the central committee ASSU Dulal Chandra Bhuyan. The principals of the Pragjyotika Academy and the Luit Velly Academy ,where the best results was secured were  also felicitated.

Red Ribbon Express leaves Mariani after two days' exhibition

From our Correspondent
JORHAT, Aug 12:  The Red Ribbon Express, an exhibition train that moves across the country to create awareness on AIDS has completed the awareness exhibition at Mariani on Sunday. Large numbers of people visited the train during last two days where Natioenal AIDS Control organization and the Indian Railways demonstrated the facts and figures on HIV cases. The exhibition on the Red Ribbon Train was formally inaugurated by the local MLA ,Mariani Rupjyoti Kurmi on Saturday.The publicity teams of the programme also staged street plays on Sunday to creat for the awareness of programme. The Red Ribbon Express left Mariani for its onward Journey to Dibrugarh.

Organizations hold peace talks against BTAD clashes

From our Correspondent
GOSSAIGAON, Aug 12: Representative from different social, students and non-political organization exchanged views on the situation of the riot-hit district and talked for peace, harmony and tolerance under the active initiative of SDO(C) Gossaigaon incharge ADC Vinod Seshan, in a meeting held at the SDO(C)’s conference hall on Friday. The meeting was attended by the representatives of All Assam Minority students’ Union (AAMSU), All Kamatapur Rajbanshi Students Union (AKRSU), All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA), All Santal Students’ Union (ASSU), Asom Jatiotabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), Char-chapori Sahitya Parishad, Assam (CCSP) Adivasi Cabra Military of Assam (ACMA) and other surrendered and cease-fires groups, local intellectuals from both Bodos and Muslims, senior citizens, people’s representatives, high administrative officials etc. They suggested and requested to all section of people to cooperate with the administration in bringing normalcy in the area. They also suggested to hold frequent dialogues among the victims from both sides to build up confidence and formation of a sub-divisional level peace committee comprising all sections of people of the sub-division.