‘Bengalis are also a part of greater Assamese society’

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

GORESWAR, Feb 18: A public tribute (shraddhanjali) and all-religion prayer meet was held at the PWD IB premises at Goreswar in Baksa district on Saturday which was organized by the Compensation-demand Committee of Dead People in the Assam Movement.

In this connection an open meeting was held with Arun Roy, president of the Compensation-demand Committee of Dead People in the Assam Movement, in the chair. The open meet was formally iugurated by Sadhan Baishya, president of All Assam Bengali Jatiya Parisad. In his iugural speech, he urged for compensation to the families of the Hindu Bengalis who died during the Assam Movement. He also urged both the Central and State governments to declare them as martyrs.

 Attending the open meet as chief guest, Bhabesh Kalita, MLA of Rangiya LAC, accepted a memorandum from the committee and said that the people who lost family members and property in the Assam Movement, especially in 1983 under Khairabari and Goreswar revenue circle, would get compensation soon. He said that he would discuss the matter with the Chief Minister of Assam and help to get the compensation.

Mison Ranjan Das, State vice-president of BJP, attended the open meet and said that Hindu Bengalis should not panic in the me of foreigners. He spoke about the historical background of Hindu Bengalis and assured that the BJP was working in favour of the victimized Hindu Bengalis. BJP will consider on citizenship for Hindu Bengalis staying under the jurisdiction of the Indian Constitution, he assured.

Addressing the gathering of near about 2,000 people, Maheswar Basumatary, EM, BTC, said that the Hindu Bengalis had been used only as vote bank by the political parties for ages. But the problems of the Bengali community had not been solved yet. After 34 long years they had to form a demand committee for compensation and this was shameful, he said. “The time has arrived to be united and fight for justice,” he added.

Sahadev Das, advocate, attended the meeting and said that Bengalis were also a part of the greater Assamese society. “They read in Assamese and speak in Assamese but they are neglected as foreigners by some Assamese people. They are called to prove their identity as Indians and put in detention camps though their mes are listed in the NRC of 1951 and voters’ lists of 1965 and 1971. No government pays attention to their please,” he lamented.