Barak Banga objects to 1951 as cut-off date

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, March 19: When the entire state is rocked with controversy over the NRC update and divergent opinions from different political parties and organizations are heating up the body-polity of Assam, Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan taking a dig at them hit out at attempts to create chaos and confusion over the definition of Assamese. In a statement, Gautom Prasad Dutta, general secretary of the cultural and literary organization, said none should forget that Assam is a multi-lingual and multi-religious state and all people irrespective of their caste and creed share the common bond of unity.

 But, he expressed his concern at the attempts of some groups to surcharge the atmosphere by infringing the rights of people in respect of their language and at the same time subverting the process of learning another language of the state through imposition. As in the past, it is now observed that a conspiracy is being hatched to deprive the minorities of their linguistic, cultural, economic and political rights.

 The peace loving people of Assam have suffered much. It is now time for them to assert and establish their democratic and fundamental rights to ensure that no Indian is left out of NRC update merely on the ground that his or her me does not figure in the voters’ list of 1951. Gautom Dutta strongly denounced and condemned the stand of the groups to insist on 1951 which according to him would only spell widespread discontentment and resentment among the minorities. In fact, they are being pushed to a sort of ordeal.

 In the meantime, the process for NRC update has begun from March 16 and most of the documents sought for from the linguistic and religious minorities will be difficult for them to produce. They have become, as Dutta pointed out, apprehensive of their being again branded as foreigners and might be subjected to harassment.

 Dutta supporting the statement of the Speaker of State Assembly, Prab Gogoi, said if there is no restraint in issuing emotiolly surcharged public statements by the groups insisting on 1951 as cut-off date for NRC update, it would only force the linguistic and religious minorities to think of altertive way of registering their protests. He advised all sections of people to learn from the past. No one has the right to strike at the fundamental rights of people in respect of their language. Rather, at this critical juncture of the state, all have to unite and work out common formula for hassle free update of NRC.