Imposition of Assamese language can hurt integrity of Assam people: Promod Boro

Our Correspondent

Kokrajhar: The president of the All Bodo Students’ Union, Promod Boro on Sunday said that the imposition of the Assamese language on others as compulsory could hurt the integrity of the people of Assam.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the flag hoisting programme during the 52nd conference of the ABSU held at the Kanakeswar Narzary Memorial Jaorikhang Fwthar, Serfanguri in Kokrajhar district on Sunday, ABSU president Promod Boro said the imposition of Assamese language on others as compulsory was not a good sign as the people of the State had experienced the pain of parting ways from the concept of greater Assamese society due to language imposition in the past. He urged the Government of Assam to relook over the issue so that the sentiments of the small indigenous communities of the State were not hurt.

Boro said the ABSU and Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) were concerned over the move of the Government of Assam to make Assamese a compulsory subject in the State, excluding BTC, Barak Valley, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and Rabha Hasong Autonomous councils. He said there were many indigenous tribal languages in Assam and the imposition of the Assamese language would be a threat to the survival of indigenous tribal languages.

“The Bodo medium and language is not a threat to the Assamese society and similarly, the Karbi, the Rabha, the Dimasa and other tribal languages are not a threat to the Assamese but English and Bengali medium could be a threat for the Assamese,” Boro said, adding that there were many tribal languages in Assam which had no medium as yet but these languages should also be saved. He said that the Bodo medium would suffer if the Assamese was made compulsory. He added that the government should ensure that no indigenous tribal language would die due to the forceful imposition of the Assamese language.

On the move to create Kamatapur autonomous council for Koch Rajbongshis and development council for Morans and Motoks, and to give financial aid to the Ahoms, the ABSU president said that the Bodos had never opposed the constitutional rights and benefits for any indigenous community.

On the CAA issue, Boro said there should not be any doubt about the ABSU’s stand on this issue. He said that for over 30 years, the Bodo belts had seen massive violence. “We do not want more violence in the region and we have been demanding a peaceful solution to all problems. We extend our moral support to the AASU on CAA,” he said.

Meanwhile, the president of the ABSU, Promod Boro hoisted the organizational flag in the morning while vice-president Dipen Boro paid rich floral tribute to the Bodoland movement martyrs.

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