It’s time for reorganization of Assam: Chakravarty

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 22: Veteran jourlist DN Chakravarty has proposed a tangible reorganization of Assam to create a number of Union Territories with its hinterland so as to keep the mainland of the State intact.

Talking to newsmen at Guwahati Press Club here today, Chakravarty said: “The Barak Valley should be separated from Assam. Likewise, hill districts Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao should also clubbed together. Dhubri and Goalpara can also be separated from the State, besides the proposed Bodoland areas comprising over 50 per cent Bodo population. The four blocks should be made as many Union Territories. Such a move isn’t going to affect Assam in anyway. There’s no loss for Assam in the event of shrugging off these burdensome offshoot as they add no revenue to the State exchequer. Such a move will help the Assamese community maintain its linguistic and cultural integrity.”

To buttress his proposal, Chakravarty said: “The great Assam of ancient times didn’t include these hinterlands. The Assam of Bhaskarverma, Sukapha and Lachit Borphukan didn’t include these districts. The people of Barak Valley are linguistically hostile to Assam, and they want a separate Inshan Bangla or Purbachal. This apart, 95 per cent educated youths of the two hill districts of the State are anti-Assamese. Dhubri and Goalpara districts respectively have 90 per cent and 80 per cent population who’re linguistically and culturally not Assamese. The Assamese people are tired of agitation by the Bodos. They want to get rid of the bandh culture, violence and murders.”

The veteran jourlists further said that he would soon send a memorandum to the Prime Minister for the reorganization of Assam. According to him, in the event of such a reorganization of the State, it will be left with 56,616 sq km against 78,438 sq km now and with a population of 2,75,80,977 against 3.112 crore at present. “Even in the event of disintegration, Assam will be a state bigger than 50 countries, let alone States,” he said, and added: “It will remain bigger than as many as 12 States in the country and have more population than 13 States. The population of the shrunk State will be more than 110 countries.”

The jourlist added that Assam needs good politicians and bureaucrats. “The decay in politics began since the days of Bimala Prasad Chaliha in the State. Most of the present MLAs are ictive and 90 per cent officials in the State are corrupt. The reality is that talents like IAS/IPS crackers of the State go outside. A section of such talents who come to the State from outside take the advantage of the short-sightedness of the political leaders and simple-and-easy-going attitude of the people of the State. The MPs from Assam need to have a good command over English and Hindi so that they can make the parliament known to the problems of the State. There are parliamentarians who can’t raise any voice in Parliament, despite holding three or four terms.”

He said that the first secular administration in the world started during the Ahom regime in Assam.