Amra Bengali joins the chorus of protest against NRC

Special Correspondent

Silchar , Aug 4: Various organizations, social, cultural and civil, have become active to raise their voice of protest against the reported statement of Prateek Hajela, state coorditor, NRC, that the mes of Bengalis would be identified as ‘outsider’ and not find place in the updated draft rolls to be published most likely in October. Sadhan Purkayastha, state secretary, Amra Bengali, based in the valley, in a statement strongly condemned such move to brand Bengalis as ‘outsiders’ in flagrant violation of all democratic and constitutiol norms.

 Sadhan Purkayastha stated the state coorditor has to know the geopolitical map of Assam before taking such a sweeping step. Before the geopolitical map of Assam was created, it was the map of Bengal which was given a concrete shape. When there was no province like Assam during the Moghul period, it was known as Sube Bangla, comprising Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. During British period, it was Bengal Presidency and Assam was a part of it. He further pointed out greater Goalpara district, now divided into 8 districts, was the sub division of present district of Rongpur of Bangladesh.

 Continuing, Sadhan Purkayastha reminded present Karimganj district was the sub division of Sylhet. The then undivided Cachar and Sylhet were ruled by Surma Valley Commissionerate. In order to give a geopolitical shape to Assam, the Britishers included the above specified districts in it. He argued against this historical backdrop that not only the Rabhas and Kalitas but also the Bengalis are the origil inhabitants of Assam. He wanted Prateek Hajela to go through the political and geographical history of Assam before branding Bengalis as ‘outsiders’.

 In fact, the state coorditor has deviated from the known facts of history. Amra Bengali therefore desires that Prateek Hajela should be divested of the onerous responsibility of updating NRC. In the circumstances, Bengalis of Assam, irrespective of their cultural and religious identity, should unite and raise their voice of protest against the attempted conspiracy to categorize the citizens of Assam as ‘OI’ and ‘NOI’.

 Amra Bengali thinks the only solution to this problem lies in the formation of a separate land comprising all the Bengali domited areas of Assam. In the meantime, Prateek Hajela has clarified that there will be no discrimition between the ‘OI’ and ‘NOI’ and everything is being done on the basis of the directive of the Registrar General of India issued to the state on July 2, 2015.