Demand to roll back Cabinet decision to abolish the Assamese language from APSC syllabus

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Stiff opposition from various organizations to the State government's decision to abolish the compulsory Assamese language paper from the syllabus of Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) examination continues in Lakhimpur district. Regarding the sensitive issue, the Lakhimpur district unit of the Koch Rajbonshi Sangram Samiti (KRSS) expressed a strong reaction in the district on Saturday. The organization further opposed to the threat issued by the infamous Barak Democratic Front (BDF) to remove the hoarding in the Assamese language within 24 hours at Silchar.

The organization demanded the State government to roll back the Cabinet's decision taken to abolish the compulsory Assamese language paper from the syllabus of APSC examination and to ensure the use and application of the Assamese language all over the State by enforcing the provisions of The Assam Official Language (Amendment) Act, 1961. In the support of the demands, the organization submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday through Sumit Sattawan, the Deputy Commissioner of Lakhimpur.

The memorandum, signed by KRSS vice-president Rupjyoti Dutta, Lakhimpur district unit president-in-charge Bikash Dutta, general secretary Nitul Saikia, said, "At present, the Assamese language has faced tremendous threats from various unscrupulous elements. The decision taken by the Cabinet to withdraw Assamese language from the APSC syllabus should be repealed and the prevalence of the same across the State should be ensured by taking adequate steps against the threat issued by the BDF to remove the signboards, hoardings of the institutions and organization written in the Assamese language within 24 hours."

The memorandum further said, "At present, the application of native official language is enforced in all the States across the nation. The Assamese language is a constitutionally recognized language and it is the official language of the State. In the course of time, the language was adversely affected by the aggression of a particular regional language and the Assamese people had to initiate a series of movements demanding for the recognition of the Assamese language as the official language and medium of instruction in the educational institutions of the State. During these movements, several Assamese youths like Ranjit Borpujari, Mozammil Haque, Anil Borah had to make supreme sacrifices. As an outcome of this series of movements during the post-independent period, the Assamese language received recognition as the Official Language of the State in 1961. Despite such circumstances, the attempt of issuing threats against the language by any organization is unfortunate."

In the same memorandum, the dignitaries declared that the organization would initiate intensified protest until and unless the Cabinet decision was rolled back and steps against those who issued threats to the Assamese language was initiated.

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