'Form Hindi-speakers' development council afresh'

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, March 6: The Hindi Bhashi Ekta Manch comprising as many as 24 organizations of Hindi-speakers in Assam has demanded of the State Government to dissolve the Hindi Bhashi Development Council (HBDC) formed on March 1, followed by oath-taking on March 2 on the ground that the council has only members from two Hindi-speakers' organizations. The Mancha leaders said: "Other than the Marwari Organization and the Bhojpuri Parishad, the council has no members from other Hindi-speakers' organizations of the State. There's not a single female member in the council." In the last Chhath Puja at Fancy Bazar in the city, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was on record saying that he would make room for all Hindi-speakers' organizations of the State in the development council meant for them. "There are around 45 lakh Hindi-speakers in Assam. Dispur has formed the development council to cater to the problems of these 45 lakh people when the Assembly election in the State is knocking at the door, and in doing so the man heading the council as the Chairman is a Congress leader. We want a person who has no political affiliation to head the council so as to ensure equal development for all," the leaders of the Mancha said. They, however, welcomed the formation of the council even as the composition of its membership is transparent.