ITSS warns AXX chief on 'Assamese' definition

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 7: The Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabha (ITSS) has warned Axam Xahitya Xabha (AXX) president Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bora not to make any statement on the vexed issue of definition of the word 'Assamese' by violating the Constitution and the existing laws in the country. Besides asking the AXX president to tender an abject apology before the people of the State, the ITSS warned Dr. Bora that if he makes such statements in the future it (ITSS) will be compelled to drag him to the court.

Addressing the press at JB Hagjer Bhawan at Ganeshguri in the city today, Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) general secretary Kamalakanta Mushahary quoted AXX president Dr. Bora as saying on November 2, 2015 at Hojai in gaon district that 'the AXX has spelt it out clearly: any people living in Assam will be treated as real Assamese if they accept the Assamese language either as first, second or third language. The word 'Assamese' should also be defined by going above and beyond caste and faiths. In this regard, even if a Bangladeshi accepts the Assamese language, he or she should also be treated as a real Assamese'.

The ITSS, however, vehemently opposed this statement of the AXX president. Mushahary said: "At a time when the tiol Register of Citizens (NRC) is being updated following a directive from the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court issuing an order to deport all foreigners who entered the country after March 25, 1971 in accordance with the Assam Accord, the AXX president making such a statement is not acceptable. This is a direct insult to the sons of the soil and the 855 martyrs of the Assam Agitation. This statement is also a direct insult to the Supreme Court verdict and a threat to the sovereignty of India. The Constitution of India hasn't even given the right to the Prime Minister and the President of India to give Indian citizenship to any foreigner if the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha don't take any legislation for the purpose. How come the AXX president make such a statement that to be an Assamese a person, including a foreigner, should accept Assamese as his/her first, second or third language? Dr. Bora is accountable to the people of Assam for making this statement, and he should tender an abject apology for this."

The ITSS also warned Dr. Bora not to make any such statement in the future, failing which, it (the ITSS) would be compelled to drag him to the court.

Meanwhile, the ITSS said that it lauded the Supreme Court's order on an eviction drive in the Kaziranga tiol Park (KNP). However, it has opposed the proposed extension of the KNP covering a tribal-inhabited area with a ten-km diameter. For an on-the-spot observation of the situation there, an eight-member ITSS team will leave for the KNP on November 13.

The ITSS will hold a convention on November 25, 2015 in Guwahati. It has raised the demand for reming the Dibrugarh Mohanbari Airport as Bhimvor Deori Airport.

Mushahary also said: "Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi lends deaf ears to the indigenous people of the State who sent him to power at Dispur in the past 15 years. While he refuses to talk to us, the Centre is holding talks with us. This has proved that the Chief Minister is out to spell doom for the indigenous people of the State."

The ITSS convening committee had its executive meeting in Guwahati yesterday when they took all these important decisions.