Bengali Hindus are already minority in Barak Valley: CM Assam

Nov. 27: The poster/ hoarding issue has now reached the corridors of power in Assam. Recently, Barak Democratic Front has allegedly given verbal ultimatum to replace a government poster from a petrol pump in Silchar, following which it was immediately replaced by a Bengali one. Last month, a similar situation was noticed centering an Assamese hoarding at Silchar Railway Station, which too was later replaced. This had its repercussion in Brahmaputra Valley, where Bengali posters and signboards were threatened by Lachit Sena to withdraw and black ink was also smeared on some of them.

Commenting on this issue on Saturday during a press meet, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma lashed out at Pradip Dutta Roy, chief of Barak Democratic Front for protesting against removal of Assamese hoardings in Silchar. Dr Sarma said, “Hindus have already become minorities in Barak Valley. Some are even trying to make the Bengali Hindus vulnerable those who are residing in Brahmaputra Valley.”

Commenting on the activities of Pradip Dutta Roy and BDF, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “He has not realised the capacity of our government. I am the Chief Minister. When action will be taken, he will be facing strong music. He is taking me lightly. This man is actually working against the Bengalis who are already minority in Barak Valley. Assamese is in our hearts. By removing an Assamese poster, he cannot wipe out our language. I give lecture in Bengali when I go there in Barak. But by opposing Bengali posters in Barak Valley, they are making ground for retaliation upon the Bengalis in Brahmaputra Valley.”

“Moreover, I don’t want to make him famous for no reason. What I liked is that Bengali eaders in Brahmaputra Valley have come forward and criticised such negative activities. The poster conspiracy has been started in Barak Valley by a few to punish the Bengalis residing in Brahmaputra Valley.” He further added, “AIUDF has captured almost the entire of Barak Valley as because there has been a total demographic change. The need of the hour is Hindu unity in Barak Valley.”