The Government is Asking the Bengalis to Forget their Own Existence in the Name of Greater Assamese Society," Barak Banga to Congress

As a part of the ‘Save Assam’ campaign of the Congress party ahead of the Assembly elections, a special procession was organised in Silchar on Wednesday. The journey started this morning in several bicycles and other vehicles including a bus. Starting the procession from the Khudiram Statue Point at Club Road at 10:30 am, the Congress leaders marched through the route of Banga Bhawan, Silchar Municipality office and then the District Magistrate’s Office, to finally towards Dholai road. The procession was being led by Sushmita Dev, President of the All India Mahila Congress and former MP from Silchar, along with local leaders including former minister Ajit Singh. On the first day, Anuruddha Singh took part in it on behalf of the Indian National Congress (INC) Central Committee.

Starting from the point of the Khudiram idol, they first appeared in Banga Bhawan. There, the members of the Barak Valley Banga Sahitya and Sanskriti Sammelan raised their grievances and problems with the Congress leadership. Sanjib Deb Laskar, Taimur Raja Choudhury and other members said, “The present government wants to build a larger Assamese community and give them all the benefits from the government. Through various activities, they are hinting that to get government benefits, the Bengalis have to forget their own identities and merge into and become part of the greater Assamese community. The Bengalis of Barak Valley cannot accept this in any way, as a result, we are being deprived again and again. Our representatives can’t even talk about it, so we need at least a strong opposition who can speak out against the government’s wrong decisions.”

They then attended the Silchar Municipality office and held discussions with the Municipality workers. In particular, the Congress leadership, including Sushmita Dev, listened to the various problems of the temporary workers there. The workers said that their pending wages have been stuck for a long time. Besides, their demand for job security hasn’t been accepted yet. In the past, one employee even committed suicide because he could not bear the agony. However, the government’s attitude did not change.

Sushmita Dev told them, “Silchar municipality is associated with our family tradition. A problem here is like a problem in my own house. Maybe I won’t always be able to come by myself but I am by their side in every movement of the municipality workers.”

The Congress leaders went to the vendors of vegetables, fruits, corns, etc. in Sadarghat area and listened to the issues concerning them. Petrol and diesel price hike has pushed up commodity prices and affected retailers, according to some vegetable and fruit vendors.

After listening to everyone’s problems, the Congress leadership promised to address them in their election manifesto. They prayed at the Sadarghat Shani Mandir and laid wreaths at the statue of Bhimrao Ambedkar in front of the District Magistrate’s office. After talking to people in different parts of the city, they left for Dholai.

Sushmita Dev said that they will discuss various failed promises of the government starting from border security. Besides, the Congress leadership will also visit the house of the missing driver of Minister Parimal Suklabaidya.