"Credit of this successful bandh goes to people of Barak Valley, not any party": BDF Chief Convenor Pradip Dutta Roy

Various parties including BDF, Congress, CPI, CPM called a 12-hour bandh today to protest against the deprivation of Barak Valley in the draft list of delimitation. Various organisations including Nagorik Odhikar Surokkha Samiti, Bangali Nabanirman Sena supported the bandh. Members of Barak Democratic Front warmly congratulated the people of entire Barak for making the bandh successful today.

In a press release, BDF Chief Convenor Pradip Dutta Roy said that the credit of making this bandh successful is not of any party or organisation but of the common people of Barak Valley. He said that in view of this bandh, the way the police activity including long march was going on for the last two days has never been seen before in this valley. The government had issued an important notification for the employees of various government departments to attend their work. Even today, the police administration has tried to forcefully open the shops and bazaars. Many have been arrested. Attempts have been made to suppress the democratic protests of the people in a completely autocratic manner. But despite all this, the spontaneous protest of the people could not be suppressed. Barak’s massive public disapproval of this delimitation draft has been made clear by today’s successful strike. He said that like the language movement of 1961, all residents of Barak have woken up regardless of caste and religion. It will be a shining epitome for the future.

Dutta Roy said that the Election Commission and the government must give importance to the opinion of the people. He emphasised that the people are the last word in democracy and all rulers of the world are accountable to the people. If the voice of the people is forcibly suppressed, its consequences are bound to be dire.

So he hoped that the Election Commission and the government will understand the matter, respect the public opinion and keep Barak’s seats intact as before. He also said that their protest will not end by observing this bandh. The protest will continue through democratic process, including sending objection letters to the Election Commission, until the draft is withdrawn. He said that if any organisation takes a protest program, they will join it spontaneously.

Dutta Roy also said that the BJP party is trying hard to create communal divide on this issue as well. He believed it is very important for everyone to be united at this moment. He urged everyone to remain committed in the same way in the future to protect the existence of Barak.

Conveners Hrishikesh Dey and Joydeep Bhattacharjee informed this news in a press release on behalf of BDF Media Cell.