“No Bengalis applied for benefits under ‘Bhasha Gaurav Achoni’,” CM Sarbananda Sonowal responds

Yesterday, North Karimganj MLA, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha took a jibe at the government of Assam in the Assembly. He alleged that the tales of assimilation that the current government keeps repeating are actually nothing but lip-services. He questioned the government’s mode of judgment by citing several instances where the Bengalis and Barak Valley have been deprived.

Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha mentioned the benefits handed over to several cultural organisations under Bhasha Gaurav Achoni but none of the Bengali organisations got any benefits.

Today, the chief minister of the state, Sarbananda Sonowal responded to a section of the allegations brought to light by the MLA of North Karimganj. With Minister Parimal Suklabaidya an MLA from Dholai who also belongs to the Bengali community, sitting right behind him, Sonowal said there is no partiality.

He said that the purpose of Bhasha Gaurav Achoni is to encourage individuals and organisations irrespective of their caste, community, creed and religion. He added that the individual or the organisation can be dealing in any particular language and that “was and never will be” the criteria.

“This Achoni is for everyone. The idea is to recognise and grant benefits to everyone under ‘Bhasha Gaurav Achoni’. I made several calls asking people why we haven’t got any applications from the Bengali organisations and individuals. Make the necessary applications and stay assured that nobody will get deprived because of their caste, community, creed and religion,” said the chief minister.

It is said that the chief minister takes the “Bhasha Gaurav Achoni” very seriously. Last year he had tweeted, “Under the “ভাষা গৌৰৱ আঁচনি” (Bhasha Gaurav Achoni), we have decided to encourage 1,000 new authors from different communities of Assam by providing ₹ 50,000 as one-time financial assistance. The Sahitya Sabhas will help us in selecting the authors.”

He went on to say in the Assembly today that if any individual or organisation has missed out they can still apply and the grant will be commissioned. “Our diversity is our strength and this initiative is to empower all the languages spoken and written in the state,” asserted CM Sarbananda Sonowal.