‘Bengali’ in Assam is linguistic identity, not ethnic one: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that ‘Bengali’ in Assam is a linguistic identity and not ethnic. “A section of people raising various demands in the names of Bengali speakers drives a wedge between Assamese and Bengalis,” he said.

The Chief Minister said this at the biennial conference of the All Assam Bangali Yuva-Chatra Federation at Silapathar today.

The Chief Minister said, “The Bengalis contributed hugely to Assamese society, be it in language, literature, or other arenas. There has been a matrimonial relationship between these communities for a long time. Rabindranath Tagore visited Assam thrice. His poems, other literary genres, and letters are replete with the mention of Assam, its places, rivers, and whatnot.”

Appealing to the Bengalis in Assam to go forward by accepting reality, the Chief Minister said, “Barring their languages, the Assamese and the Bengalis have no basic differences. They follow the same rituals, religion, festivals, etc. Apart from their mother tongue, the Bengalis of the state should own the Assamese language. They need to identify themselves as Bengali-speaking Assamese and make strides together with the rest of the population in the state. I don’t like the move by a section of people to drive a wedge between the Bengalis and Assamese in Assam. It is because we will have to live together. In the past two years, nowhere in the state have the Bengalis faced any harassment. Barring the protected areas, they can purchase land at any place in the state, just like every other Assamese. Even the BTR Council has three Bengalis as executive members (EMs).”

On Hindu Bengalis from Bangladesh, the Chief Minister said, “We need to safeguard them. The CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) has been passed. After clearance from the Supreme Court of India, the government will implement the Act.”

On the allegation that the names of many Bengalis have not been cleared in voter lists due to the biometric data under the NRC update, the Chief Minister said, “This is not for the Bengali alone. The names of lakhs of Assamese and tribal people have also not been cleared due to the biometric data of the NRC.”

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi views NE through the lens of potential and not politics: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Also Watch: