GUWAHATI: Kolkata-based political commentator Dr. Garga Chatterjee has unconditionally apologized to the people of Assam over his controversial remark describing Ahom kingdom founder Chaolung Sukaphaa as a "Chinese invader".
Posting a video on social media, Chatterjee informed that he has written to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressing regret over his remarks and promised not to indulge in such acts in the future.
Chatterjee said in his twitter post, "I express my unconditional apology to the people of Assam, the Tai Ahom community and to honorable CM of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal for any hurt in sentiment that I may have caused unintentionally through social media post. My apology statement video is below."
In the video titled 'Unconditional apology to people of Assam by Garga Chatterjee', he apologizes to the people of Assam; and hails the Ahom ruler Sukaphaa, whom he has been accused of "insulting".
"In the future, I will never make any social media post that may hurt the sentiments of the people of Assam", Chatterjee says in his video. He then goes on to say that his father has been diagnosed with cancer and his mother has been stricken with fractures.
Stating that he has not made any social media post since June 19, Chatterjee says that his "whole time is spent with concern for his dying and ailing parents." He also said that he is ready to take down the social media posts that have hurt the sentiments of the people of Assam.
Chatterjee says he hopes he will be forgiven for the controversial remarks. Chatterjee exhorted the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (who had tasked the Assam Police with arresting him) and the people to forgive him so as to save his family from "destruction."
Chatterjee earned the wrath of the denizens of Assam for taking potshots at the Government amid the ongoing tensions with China. Chatterjee, who has a verified Twitter account, took to the micro-blogging site amid the anti-China sentiment prevailing in the country, to write a series of tweets denouncing the famed Ahom ruler.
During his tirade on Twitter, Chatterjee had also chided Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for celebrating Sukaphaa's birthday (celebrated as the 'Asom Divas'). Later, an Assam Police team was sent to Kolkata to bring him to book, but they were unable to do so (allegedly due to a lack of cooperation from the Kolkata Police). (Agencies)