Aminul's supporters protest with tonsured heads

Aminul's supporters protest with tonsured heads

Ministry denied 

Special Correspondent

Silchar, April 30: There has been simmering discontent among the supporters of Aminul Haque Laskar, the lone minority representative elected from Sonai constituency of Cachar district. He won the last assembly elections by defeating the most influential Congress candidate Anamul Haque Laskar by an impressive margin of votes. In fact, Aminul Haque has been the most active and also acceptable elected representative and at the direction of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, he was prepared with a self-appraisal report of his one year performance as MLA.

Moreover, on all issues related mostly to development, he was vocal and even made all out efforts to complete the welfare schemes and projects sponsored by the Centre and the state within the stipulated time. Even on the most crucial issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, he made his stand quite clear that Hindu Bengali refugees need to be given shelter and protection. After all, they are the victims of religious and political persecution. This he revealed in an exclusive interview with The Sentinel dated December 29, 2017.

It was quite natural looking at his track record of performance and commitment to the Party, Aminul Haque Laskar should have been given a berth in the expanded Cabinet of Sarbananda Sonowal. But, the lone minority representative was not accommodated although the Chief Minister could easily allocate one of the portfolios. Some ministers are holding more than one portfolio. The denial of ministry to Aminul Haque Laskar has sent a wave of shock and dismay among his supporters belonging to different communities. In order to vent out their ire, his close associates who included Bidhu Bhusan Chakraborty, Md. Jasim Uddin Laskar, Sachindra Das, Manav Singh and Manoj Kumar Gour held a press-meet on Monday.

The supporters expressing their resentment told media-persons, “We have been utterly disappointed at the non inclusion of our MLA who has made a place of respect among all communities and is working hard for the development of the constituency, neglected during the last 50 years of Congress rule.” They reminded the lone BJP candidate, Badri Narayan Singh, who was elected from Sonai was in 1991. Before him, no one could be on the winning side. It was after a gap of two decades that Aminul could win the election on BJP ticket against all odds.

The protest by his supporters did not end with the press-meet. It was a day which also witnessed tonsuring of heads, protest demonstrations with banners and placards as well as raising of slogans against the non inclusion of their leader in the ministry. The followers with tonsured heads also had black cloths round their mouths. This kind of protest was held in different parts of Sonai. This also indicated how much admiration exists for Aminul Haque Laskar among the people of Muslim dominated Sonai constituency.

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