Letters to the Editor: Eviction and compensation

After the installation of the BJP-led government at Dispur, a very strong message - which was very much overdue - has been sent to the illegal encroachers along with their patrons like the AIUDF and Akhil Gogoi, which has started showing positive results. The recent Gorukhuti and Lumding eviction drives can be cited as some of the examples.

But of late, very surprisingly our compulsive Oppositions, namely Congress, AIUDF and Akhil Gogoi and company in particular, are demanding adequate compensations from the government for those illegal encroachers. It is a known fact that whatever amount the government would to pay as compensation to those illegal encroachers will be at the expense of the bona fide tax-payers' money. It is a harsh reality that 100 per cent of the illegal encroachers are hardcore anti-national criminals belonging to a particular linguistic minority who are used as vote banks by our secular political parties even at the cost of the nation's security and integrity. AASU's stoic silence in this regard is mysterious and very much regrettable. Jai ai Asom.

Lanu Dutt Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

APSC language paper

Through your esteemed daily, we want to reply to the so-called frustrated candidates to have some patience as the issue of 'Language paper in APSC' is both directly and indirectly related to the survival and propagation of Assamese language (including Bengali for Barak Valley and Bodo for BTR) among the people residing in Assam seeking employment in the prestigious Grade -A and Grade-B posts under Government of Assam.

A language as a mandatory qualifying paper in the top-most exam of the state has a 'downward filtration effect' as it will ultimately make parents want their children to opt for Assamese (same for Bengali and Bodo in their respective districts) as the MIL subject in class-9 and class-10 board examinations of ICSE, CBSE and SEBA boards. In urban areas, Hindi is preferred more. The ones opposing language paper vehemently in print and social media with different excuses, are the ones who didn't study these official languages of Assam and also don't have the will to learn any one of them, but at the same time hypocritically want to serve the public in Assam as a civil servant.

With Assamese speakers comprising only 49% of population in Assam and no measures like ILP or Assam Accord's Clause-6 constitutional safeguards being implement due to some hurdles, the insecurity about loss of language and ultimately dilution of heritage and culture cannot be negated in the natives of the state, which has seen massive influx from neighbouring countries and states both legally and illegally. Assam has seen various language-based movements for the same very reason like 'Medium Movement', 'Language Movement' and the more recent CAA due to fear of non-Assamese speakers imposing their language over Assamese due to increase in the former's population as a result of further influx. Non-Assamese speakers trying to read, write and speak the language will go a long way in removing this fear and bringing a sense of unity and fraternity like it is seen in the places where migrations happened decades ago and their children have to study in Assamese medium schools due to lack of English medium schools. Those families have gelled with the local people and culture. Language helped as connecting link. Maharashtra PCS has Marathi as compulsorily qualifying paper even if Marathis compromise of only about 27% of Maharashtra's population as quoted in 'Maratha reservation' issue. So I request the Government of Assam and stakeholders to have comprehensive view in long-term perspective and reinstate the language paper as the conditions of having Employment Exchange Registration and being Permanent Resident of Assam can be fulfilled only by amendment of the Constitution by Parliament and not by the state Assembly.

If one looks at the similar syllabus based UPSC CSE 2021 MIL qualifying Assamese language paper, the questions are of Class 8-9th standard and anyone who didn't study the subject can easily learn it in 6 months. So it is imperative for the greater purpose of respect and honour of state's official language under 'Assam Official Languages Act, 1960' that the case is concluded with provision of Language Paper as present in the APSC CCE 2019 original syllabus without any selected exemptions. Having the language test after three years of the candidates being in service will not have any compulsion as not qualifying it will not bring disqualification to a civil servant.

Starting from CCE 2020 'Language Paper' should be reinstated which will also help in the prestigious APSC CCE not being tangled in court cases and also helping better performance in UPSC CSE and IFoS examinations. Till then results, if at all given on humanitarian ground, keeping mind the many months of lockdown and Covid restrictions, should not lead to appointment unless a written language test is taken for CCE 2020. A dictation-based test like taken by APSC in some already-concluded examinations can be a one-time measure for CCE 2020 before the final verdict is arrived at.

A group of aspirants,

Guwahati.

'Thou too Brutus!'

"Thou too Brutus" were the last words uttered by Julius Caeser when he found himself to be stabbed by Brutus, his closest aide. The very same dialogue almost has become very popular nowadays when one finds himself to be betrayed by his nearest and dearest one. In Ramayan, it was Bibhishan, and others in the different era are Jaichand, Mirzaffar, Badan to name a few.

Very alarmingly, recently it is alleged that the former Vice-President under UPA regime Md. Hameed Ansari too played the role of Brutus during his tenure as Vice-President when he allegedly hobnobbed with Pakistani agent which was substantiated with some vital evidences, including photographs. As a bonafide proud Indian, I believe that even if 30 per cent of the allegations are found to be true, I would like to repeat, 'Thou too Ansari'! The pleas put forward by INC in Ansari's defence do not hold any ground as it seems they are trying to beat around the bush in their last effort for political survival.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury

Guwahati

Restoration of OPS

The New Pension Scheme (NPS) is definitely seen as a hazard for the employees under its purview. It is not clear what will be their benefits after retirement from service. It is mentionable here that the NPS is not any way equivalent to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Employees who joined service after February 1, 2005 fall under the NPS in Assam. In this regard, the All Assam Government NPS Employees Association (AAGNPSEA) since its formation has been actively involved in various activities to restore the OPS by scrapping the NPS. However, we should look forward and to be united all over the state to restore OPS. We must continue our struggle till the last minute! As some states in the country have restored the OPS, then why not our state government?

Achyut Talukdar,

Bihampur, Nalbari.