Barak cultural and literary body holds protest meet

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Silchar, Dec 17: The outburst and rage against the statement of Union Minister of State for Railways, Rajen Gohain continue to rattle Barak Valley with students, youths, cultural and literary bodies as well as different organizations staging protest rallies and demonstrations at different places. As reported earlier, Cachar observed total bandh while Hailakandi and Karimganj did protest but abstained from supporting the shut down. Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan (BUBSOSS), a frontline organization, today held a rally and protest demonstration before the statue of Khudiram Bose at Club Road. It was addressed by a number of citizens and members of the literary body. The rally carried posters and banners, denouncing Gohain for his most ‘irresponsible’ statement.

Subrata th, teacher, said before the assembly that it was yet another attempt to muzzle the voice of Bengali people by Gohain, calling for derecognizing their mother tongue as the official language as well as the medium of instruction.

He added that this will never happen and shall not be allowed to happen. Paritosh Dey, an important functiory of the literary body, described the call of the Minister and BJP MP as an assault on ‘our mother language which has to be resisted by all means’. If needed, people of Barak Valley are prepared to launch yet another movement, he pointed out.

While addressing the gathering of BUBSOSS, political parties and other organizations in Hailakandi, Gautom Roy, former Congress minister, dubbed minister Gohain as a person without having any knowledge of the historical and language background of this valley.

“Bengali was recognized not only as an official language but also as the medium of education after a long struggle and movement. It needs no repetition that 11 lives were lost. More sacrifices will follow when situation demanded,” he said.

Kamrul Islam, general secretary of AGP of Hailakandi district, in his speech lashed out at Gohain and reminded him no affront on Bengali language would be accepted. “On the question of mother tongue, Hindus and Muslims are united and no authority or power can break it,” he said.

Khitish Ranjan Paul, former BJP president of Hailakandi, notwithstanding the stand of his party, did not mince any words to condemn the controversial statement from a responsible person like Gohain. He demanded his resigtion from the Union Ministry.

 Sams Uddin Barlaskar, general secretary of district Congress committee, took umbrage at the tacit support extended by the AIUDF MLA of Hailakandi to the statement of Rajen Gohain. Without ming him, he called for his social boycott. In this anti Bengali tirade also cropped up the me of Shiladitya Dev, MLA of Hojai, Badruddin Ajmal and Anowar Hussain Laskar, MLA for their objectioble stand on Bengalis in general. Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, AIUDF, Hailakandi Bar Association among other organizations took part in the protest meeting. In Karimganj also, BUBSOSS today held a press-meet and chided the statement of Rajen Gohain, reminding him of its serious repercussions in this valley.