Assam scene escalating into Tripura-like situation: Samujjal Bhattacharya

Our Correspondent

MANGALDAI: AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) adviser-in-chief Samujjal Bhattacharya has said that the situation of Assam is escalating into ‘what is seen in Tripura where the indigenous Tripuris have been reduced minority comprising only around 12 lakh of the 40 lakh population of the State’, and this is why the people of the State have been opposing the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Bill) tooth and nail.

Bhattacharya said this while addressing a largely attended rally organized by the All Darrang District Students’ Union and the Mahaliapara Anchalik Students’ Union on the occasion of the Silpi Divas here on Friday.

“Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla is the fourth in the State to make sound film in India, but it is very unfortunate that the Government of India is yet accord him due honour and recognition. It’s a clear step-motherly reflection of the Government of India towards the people of Assam. It is also very unfortunate that the State government too failed to play its role in granting national honour and recognition to Rupkonwar. The State government celebrating ‘Silpi Divas’ is a mockery,” Bhattacharya said, and added, “We aren’t concerned over the attitude of both the Union and the State governments towards Rupkonwar, but he will continue to be in the mind and soul and in every blood cell of the people on Assam.”

Worried over the situation of the indigenous people of Tripura, Bhattacharya said that the Pripuris comprise around 12 lakh of the 40 lakh population of the State. “This is the reason why the people of Assam have been opposing the CAA tooth and nail. We’re committed to ensure safety and security of our language and culture. The people of Assam are determined to make their hearts as soft as flowers and as tough as stones to achieve their goal. The artiste fraternity has come forward to join the movement against the CAA to make a cultural revolution. The people of Darrang did lead the Assam Movement and it is the high time they led this movement against the CAA too,” the AASU adviser appealed to the people of the State.

Coming down heavily on State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Bhattacharya accused him of misleading the State Assembly with ‘a false statement’ to distort the Assam Accord. “Himanta Biswa Sarma should go through the Assam Accord again and again, and he should seek apology from the people of Assam for his misleading statements,” he said, while issuing a warning to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal with an appeal not to insult the people of the state. “Mr. Chief Minister, please don’t cross the line,” he reminded his former AASU colleague.

Earlier AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath unfurled the AASU flag and AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi ceremonially paid floral tribute in memory of the martyrs of the Assam Movement. Bhattacharjyya also paid tribute before the portrait of the Rupkonwar.

A galaxy of artistes like Zubeen Garg, Garima Saikia Garg, Babu, Dikshu, Nekib, Nirmali Das, JP Das and Ajay Phukan enthralled the function with their numbers in protest against the CAA.

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