BDF calls for Barak bandh on June 30 against delimitation draft, Appeals for support from like minded parties and people

BJP leaders of Barak congregated in a meeting held in Silchar yesterday in view of discrimination against Barak Valley in delimitation process. They protested against the draft proposal published by Election Commission of India. Besides thanking them for this, BDF Chief Convenor Pradip Dutta Roy reacted to the whole incident.

Speaking to the media today, Dutta Roy said the BDF members expressed yesterday that through this delimitation there is a conspiracy to destroy the Bengalis of Barak and Assam. It was also told that the Bengalis will be greatly affected regardless of whether they are Hindus or Muslims. The BJP leaders also came to the same conclusion. He said that for the sake of Barak and Bengalis, now is the time for everyone to unite. It is a good sign that local BJP leaders have realised this and have come forward.

Dutta Roy said that Barak Democratic Front has been working for economic and social development of Barak for the past three years. Barak has been deprived on various issues before also. He was himself sent to jail for protesting to save Barak’s language law. Barak’s children have been grossly deprived of government jobs. The naming of Bhasa Shahid station has been deliberately withheld despite the approval of the Central Government and Railways. But until now the leaders of Barak BJP have remained completely silent about this. Dutta Roy believed that accountability to Barak’s voters should be the priority of elected representatives. But still he congratulated the local leadership as that they finally received enlightenment though belatedly. But at the same time he said that just protesting against it will not work. After the language movement of 1961, the then MLA Mahitosh Purkayastha stood up for Barak in the Assam Legislative Assembly, for which he was expelled from the Assembly. The then MLA Nanda Kumar Singha resigned from his post as a mark of protest. He asked Barak’s legislators to follow the tradition and resign in unison to protest against the delimitation process. He said that they should remain assured that their resignations will not be accepted. But that would put the right pressure on the government and fulfill their responsibility to Barak’s voters. Dutta Roy also remained hopeful that the local leaders of BJP will soon speak up about the remaining burning issues of Barak in the same way and put pressure on the government to resolve them.

Dutta Roy said that there is a lot of public pressure on BDF and even BJP leaders and workers are requesting them to announce their protest programme immediately. He said that a decision in this regard was supposed to be taken in the joint meeting on June 26. But under so much pressure, he discussed the matter with Tapadhir Bhattacharjee, former Vice Chancellor of Assam University and convener of the June 26 meeting. Looking at the issue from all perspectives Dutta Roy announced in the press conference that he is calling for a total bandh across the entire Barak Valley from 5 am to 5 pm on Friday, June 30, to protest against the delimitation of seats in Barak Valley and taking away the political power of Bengalis. He stayed hopeful that all the parties, organisations and general public of Barak will fully support this bandh programme and make it successful through active cooperation.

BDF Media Cell Chief Convenor Joydeep Bhattacharjee said the Chief Minister is announcing in media that the interests of the Khilonjiyas will be protected through this delimitation. He also said that the unfulfilled goals of NRC and Assam agreement will be fulfilled through delimitation this time. Joydeep said that first of all the government could not define who is Khilonjiya in Assam. Secondly Chief Minister is a constitutional post and he has taken oath to represent all the communities of the state as per the constitution. But the hatred the Chief Minister is inciting against certain communities through such statements is unfortunate and unconstitutional. Joydeep also said that they will submit their objection letter to the Election Commission by July 14, but since the common people cannot raise such objections, this bandh has been called for the purpose of conveying their anger to the government.

Convener Hrishikesh Dey informed this news in a press release on behalf of BDF Media Cell.