SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: Barak Democratic Front (BDF) chief Pradip Dutta Roy hailed Mrinalini Devi, mother of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, for her bold stand on Bengali language and calling for self introspection by some organisations by kicking up controversy. Bengalis have taken much pain and labour to protect their language and enrich it by literature. They have every right to defend their mother tongue, she contended. Saluting her profusely, Dutta Roy greeted Mrinalini Devi as the mother of Barak Valley.
Talking to The Sentinel, Pradip Dutta Roy said the chairperson of Jal Jivan Mission and Deputy Commissioner of Cachar acted in gross violation of Official Language Act of 1961 by pasting posters in Assamese language of the Mission on the billboards of Silchar railway station for public view. The youth wing members went to the station to stage protest only and not remove them or erase them. But, before their members had reached there, the posters were already mutilated, Dutta Roy clarified. BDF has no intention to insult Assamese language. Rather, they have regard for all languages.
He reminded a few days ago his organisation stood up against the decision of the State government to merge the well known Assamese medium Tarunram Phukan School with Bengali medium school on the pretext of poor roll strength of students in the school. The State government has to change its decision. The leaders like Sammujjal Bhattacharjee and Lurin Jyoti or Shrinkhal Chaliha who have now cried a hoarse did not even utter a word of appreciation for BDF then. "We here are committed to work in the interest of all languages, rising above all pretensions and emotional reactions," Dutta Roy pointed out.
Pradip Dutta Roy said these student leaders should try to find out answer why demand has been raised for autonomy in Bodo dominated areas, Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills. Despite provocations from some organisations in Brahmaputra Valley, Barak people in general have never opted for or supported any agitation for separation. But, they will defend their language, culture and identity at any cost.
He at the same time reminded it was at Silchar railway station that 11 persons including young girl of 18, Kamala Bhattacharjee, fell to police bullets during mass agitation in 1961. It was this supreme sacrifice that led to the enactment of Official Language Act of 1961 which allows use of Bengali language as the medium of instruction and for administrative and other official purposes in Barak Valley.
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