Tearing Bengali Banners: "Reaction Is Obvious" Minister Ranjit Dass In Hailakandi; "He's Ignorant" Says Sushmita Dev

Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development, Food and Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs in the Government of Assam, stirred controversy during his visit to Hailakandi district in the Barak Valley today when questioned about recent incidents involving the tearing apart of Bengali-language banners at Durga Puja Mandaps in the Brahmaputra Valley.

In response to a journalist’s inquiry, Minister Dass remarked, “If you ignore Bengali language in Barak Valley and install banners in Assamese, there will be a reaction. When you erase the Assamese Language in Brahmaputra Valley and install banners in Bengali, the reaction is obvious.”

However, the minister’s statement has ignited a strong backlash in Barak Valley, particularly on social media. Critics argue that the minister’s comments inaccurately portrayed the events in question. In reality, private Puja Committees, responsible for organizing the revered Durga Puja festival, placed banners with phrases like “Joy Shree Kedarnath” in Bengali, and it was these banners that were torn apart. The controversy primarily revolved around the use of Bengali in the banners, rather than the erasure of the Assamese language.

Former Member of Parliament for Silchar, Sushmita Dev, was quick to condemn Minister Dass’ statement as “ignorant.” Dev penned a letter to Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also serves as the Home Minister of Assam, expressing her concerns about the actions of fringe radical elements involved in the tearing of Bengali banners.

In her letter, Sushmita Dev wrote, “I am compelled to write to you as you hold the portfolio of the Home Ministry, and the law and order of the state and its people are under your jurisdiction. It is of grave concern that some fringe radical elements that, to my mind, bring shame to a warrior like Lachit Borphukon, are hell-bound upon disturbing the peace and harmony in Assam under your watch and are escaping legal action.” Dev pointed out that Lachit Sena cadres were primarily responsible for tearing apart the banners.

Dev continued, “You may be aware that some of the Durga Puja Committees used Bengali language signage in their puja pandals and faced threats and humiliation from certain hooligans who forcibly pulled down the signage in Bengali.”

She also reminded the Chief Minister of Assam that there is no law forbidding the use of any language within the state, and that the Assam Official Language Act of 1960 applies to official purposes only. Threatening or forcing individuals to write in a specific language for private purposes constitutes a criminal act. Dev urged the Chief Minister to take appropriate legal action against the culprits and expressed her dismay that the Assam Police seemed to be turning a blind eye to such incidents.

In her concluding remarks, Sushmita Dev stated, “It is appropriate to point out here that the Hon’ble Minister Mr. Ranjit Das visited Barak Valley today and condoned this act indirectly. Such ignorance on the part of a Minister is also a cause for concern. His analogy and logic are quite irresponsible, to say the least. I hope you will not remain a silent bystander to this growing intolerance towards Bangla or any other language apart from Assamese. Please take appropriate action failing which I will be compelled to think you are complicit.”