‘Bengalis are integral part of Assam’: Anup Chetia

A Correspondent

Dibrugarh: “The Bengali community here is very much a part of Assam, for they have assimilated, over the years, with the indigenous communities in more ways than one,” stated General Secretary of ULFA (pro-talk), Anup Chetia at an event organised by Sampriti Assam, an NGO working to promote inter-community harmony in the state, on Friday.

Clearing the air, he told that the remarks of the pro-talk ULFA leaders regarding the Bengali people were simply in retaliation to the provocative and telling comments of MLA Shiladitya Dev, and didn’t at all mean to trigger fear and a sense of paranoia among the rightful Bengali population of the state.

He called upon the people to promote amity among the various linguistic groups in the state. Criticising the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Chetia asserted that the BJP government was vigorously pushing the bill for political gains, but not considering the ramifications the legislation might carry for the Hindu Bengali population of Bangladesh who were hitherto living a stable life.

“In the event of the bill becoming an act, the ones living in the countryside might have to bear the brunt of the trouble,” Chetia, who was once sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment by a Bangladeshi court, opined. Speaking on the occasion, renowned poet and former President of Axom Sahitya Sabha, Dr. Nagen Saikia, said that Assamese-Bengali unity was very old as well as strong. He held that one of India’s brightest spots had been its diversity, and same was the case with Assam. Saikia added that confluences had always resulted in development and growth, unlike isolation or reclusiveness which often led to failures.

The event, presided by Pradip Sen Sharma, was graced by many dignitaries including former headmaster of Bengali Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Parimal Mukherjee; former Head Postmaster of Dibrugarh Head Post Office, Arun Uday Bhattacharjya; Ward Commissioner, Dr. Saikat Patra and noted advocate, Shyamal Seal.

Also Read: The Final National Register of Citizens Must Exclude Doubtful Citizens, Says Anup Chetia