From Our Special Correspondent
Silchar, Aug 19: As announced earlier, leaders and supporters of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Students’ Union (NBMSU) and Bishnupriya Manipuri Ga Sangram Parishad (BMGSP), central committee, staged two day hunger strike in front of the Parliament at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, recently in support of their 7 point charter of demands. Elaborating on their demands, Gourav Rajkumar, president, NBMSU, said, “Our organizations jointly have been on agitation for a long time and addressed a number of memoranda to the state of Assam and the Centre for responding to our long standing and legitimate demands, but of no avail.”
The hunger strike at the tiol capital was an exercise to draw the attention of all political parties and their leaders with a view to creating pressure on both the state of Assam and the Centre for positive outcome, pointed out Bijay Kumar Sinha, vice-chairman, BMGSP. The memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister of India highlighted their demands and strongly pleaded for their fulfillment. The memorandum reiterated the inclusion of Bishnupriya Manipuri community in the OBC list of the Central Government for favourable consideration by the state of Assam, considering the social, economic and educatiol backwardness of the community.
Mantush Sinha, general secretary, NBMSU, rued the absence of any representation from the Bishnupriya Manipuris either in the Parliament or in the state Assembly due to their microscopic number. This stands in the way of airing their grievances and opinions on the floor of the houses. He at the same time called it unfortute that since number of votes decide the fate of a candidate in any election, the chances of any representation from their community are indeed remote. The memorandum presses for introduction of a Bill in the Parliament for making necessary provision by adding new Article or Articles in the Constitution of India for nomition of an MP in the Rajya Sabha or an MLA in the Assam State Legislative Assembly from Bishnupriya Manipuri community.
Tambak Se Sinha, general secretary, BMGSP, said this issue of representation deserves serious consideration for meting out justice to them. The hunger strike at the same time conveyed the important message, arguing for introduction of Bishnupriya Manipur section in the AIR and DDK Silchar, Agartala and Guwahati for broadcasting and telecasting of their language programme. This legitimate demand continues to hang in uncertainty.
The hunger strike also focused on the issue of appointment of Bishnupriya Manipuri teaching training diploma holders as Bishnupriya Manipuri language teachers in lower primary, upper primary, middle English, secondary, higher secondary, graduation and post graduation levels in the state of Assam. This also calls for making necessary amendment in the Constitution of India, argued Tambak Se Sinha. The demand is backed up by the Article 350 and 350 (A) of the Constitution of India for teaching and learning process in mother tongue.
The hunger strike took the opportunity to stress on the opening of Bishnupriya Manipuri language department in all the universities recognized by the UGC which will facilitate the students of the community to pursue higher education in their mother tongue at post graduation level. Demand has also been raised for nomition of a member with requisite qualification on the Union Public Service Commission and one member each in the Executive Council of Assam University as well as Gauhati University. According to Raj Lakshmi Sinha, president, Bishnupriya Manipuri Women Organization, a large number of leaders and workers as well as students participated in the hunger strike. She however did not elaborate about the next move of their organizations. She only said, “Wait and see. Our fight will continue till we reach the goal.”