Meeting on educational issues convened by Dr Ranoj Pegu; ABVP criticises Minister for not inviting them

Aug 30: A meeting on educational issues of Assam was convened by State Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu in Guwahati on Monday. The meeting was attended by representatives various institutions.

These included AASU, All Assam Tribal Sangha, AATYL, Mising Nimak Kebang, ABSU,ARSU, TMPK, ATSU, Tiwa Yuva Chatra Parishad, Sadou Tai Ahom Chatra Sanstha, ADSU, ATTSA, AKRSU, Sadou Asom Matak Yuwa Chatra Sanmilan, Sadou Asom Moran Chatra Sanstha, Sadou Asom Sonowal Kachari Chatra Sanstha, Sadou Asom Deori Chatra Sanstha, KSA, Sadou Asom Adivasi Chatra Sanstha, Sadou Asom Chutia Chatra Sanstha, Sadou Asom Gorkha Chatra Sanstha, Sadou Asom Sarania Kachari Chatra Sanstha, Sadou Asom Modahi Chatra Sanstha, Karbi Students’ Union, NCHISF, All Assam Karbi Students’ Union, Sadou Asom Goriya-Moriya Deshi Jatia Parishad, Mech Kachari Jatiya Parishad, Sadou Asom Hajong Chatra Sanstha, Sadou Asom Nath Jogi Chatra Sanstha and Sadou Asom Barman Kachari Chatra Sanstha.

However, this has raised a great controversy. Akil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a right-wing all India student organisation affiliated to the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has expressed strong resentment for not being invited to the meeting convened by the Department of Education wherein a gamut of educational issues were discussed by the concerned minister with a large number of students’ associations of the state.

Apart from many former office bearers of ABVP, some present members expressed their grievance in social media. Dr Ranoj Pegu after the meeting posted about it in his Facebook Page. Beneath his post, more than 1000 comments were made wherein the minister was severely criticised for not inviting ABVP to that meeting on Monday.

Ankush Deb, a member of ABVP commented on the post of Dr Ranoj Pegu. He wrote, “A organisation which is working since 1949 for the upliftment of the educational system as well as upliftment for the society and being world’s largest Students’Organisation ABVP was not invited in such matters … Kudos to our education minister and his secretary. Dear Ranoj Pegu sir, some times you left us on questioning about your decisions or on your credibility to handle such a high post like education ministry….”

Another active member of ABVP, Rohit Chanda, who also is an office bearer wrote, “A hardworking person you are! Arranging such a massive meeting is not a small matter… Hopefully you will also start doing smart-work soon… Probably those 30 to 32 organisations invited by you in the meeting would represent lesser number of students in comparison with ABVP in the state of Assam….” Many had even tagged Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP State President Bhabesh Kalita in their comments.

“Dear Ranoj Pegu Sir, everything seems to be right in this meeting but not seeing the name of ABVP which is world’s largest student organization is quite disappointing , well that might be your perspective that ABVP is not a students organization but atleast we are not that students organization who claims to be students organization but gives birth to many political parties every year,” wrote another ABVP member.

Amitesh Chakraborty, Cachar District President of Bharatiya Yuva Morcha too wrote, “ABVP is the world’s largest students organisation. AVBP’s representation is very much needed when educational policies were discussed.” Manoj Kanti Das, Former State Secretary,N.E.State ABVP also wrote, “Why has ABVP not informed in such an important issue?”

Criticising the Education Minister, another social media user Bhardwaj Santosh wrote, “Why not invited Hindibhashi and Bhojpuri Parishad in this meeting…..? Parishad is working actively in all Assam. Only using in the time election.” Another wrote, “All are invited except AAMSU. Why this discrimination between us ? Is AAMSU not a students Union of Assam ?” Another netizen wrote, “There should be inclusiveness. All students organisations could have been invited. The student organisations which includes members from all sections of the society should definitely get weightage. ABVP, NSUI, SFI, etc were left out.” Questions were also raised for not inviting any Bengali association from Barak Valley.

“Dear Pegu Sir, some times you left us on questioning about your decisions or on your credibility to handle such a high post like Education Ministry as you have again and again forgotten to involve world’s largest students organisation in your meetings, wrote another member of ABVP. Another netizen commented, “No student organization from Barak valley… Do u even consider Barak valley as a part of Assam?”

Their feedback and suggestions will help us to formulate our policies.

Officials of the Education Dept. were also present. (2/2)

— Ranoj Pegu (@ranojpeguassam) August 30, 2021

On condition of anonymity, an office bearer of Assam ABVP said, “Perhaps our Education Minister Sir is not aware about a nationalist students’ organisation like ABVP and is more interested to be associated with AASU and other minor student organisations for reasons best known to him.” More than 1000 comments were made by the netizens in the Facebook post of Dr Pegu, mostly by the supporters, former and present office bearers of ABVP. Till the filing of this report, the post has been shared by 225 Facebook users.