From a Correspondent
DIGBOI April 17: Following allegations that the chairperson of the Digboi Town Committee, Shipra Mollick had hurt the sentiments of the Assamese people recently during the Rongali Bihu celebration, several local organizations gheraoed the DTC office shouting slogans against her on Monday, demanding a public apology from her.
The agitating bodies included the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity, NSUI, Digboi Unyan Samity, Mahila Mandal and general people headed by Ahom Jatiya Gamancha. They lambasted the anti-Assamese act of the chairperson of evicting the traditiol Bihu delicacy (pithas) stalls erected as usual within the premises of the DTC by various self-help groups.
Demanding immediate removal of Shipra Mollick from the chairmanship of the local body, the disgruntled members of the self-help group alleged that Mollick had driven them out of the campus on April 13, prohibiting them from erecting stalls to sell traditiol Bihu pithas. Molliock was alleged to have imposed rent and on not receiving the rent, had adopted the policy of trampling the Assamese sentiments associated with those delicacies, thus allegedly underestimating the significance of the Rongali Bihu festival in Assam.
Joining the agitation, Jiten Dutta, the pro-talk ULFA leader demanded immediate and public apology in Assamese traditiol way by means of rendering xarai and betel nut for the act. Lakhya Jyoti Gogoi, Utpal Gogoi and Nitu Phukon belonging to various local organizations said that none of the office bearers of the DTC, including the chairperson, would be allowed to go out of the office unless the chairperson enthroned by the BJP begged for apology and gave a written assurance of not committing such an act again.
However, driven by popular wave brewing outside the office of strong composite sentiments, the chairperson filly admitted her blunder and begged apology in front of the disgruntled members, besides assuring the SHG of making provisions for the stalls in the near future. As demanded, she knelt on her knees with tamul-paan on the traditiol xarai in her hand and regretting the act, promised to reform her approach in matters involving greater interest.