by Mayukh Goswami

Mangaldai   : ‘Raijmel’ or an open public meeting , organized by the management of  ‘Dainik Janambhumi’, one of the pioneer Assamese vernacular dailies in collaboration with Darrang Zila Sahitya Sabha at the Sahitya Sabha, Bhawan ,Mangaldai on Saturday, has vehemently opposed the passing of the proposed ‘Citizenship Bill (Amended) 2016’ and also demand not to make any delay in publishing the final draft of the NRC as scheduled on June 30 next . The meeting attended by representatives of more than twenty non political local public bodies including AJYCP , AASU , Senior Citizen Forum , Karmachari Parishad , Bengali Yuva Chatra Federation , Goria-Moria Deshi Jatiya Parishad , Krishak Sanggha , Lekhika Samaroh , Lekhika Sanstha , Chambers of Commerce , Mangaldai Media Circle  etc termed the proposed Citizenship Bill as the fatal bill for the Assamese culture , language etc  and passed unanimous resolution against it . The meet also passed resolution demanding the Sate NRC authority not to delay the publish of the final draft of NRC on any pretext including flood in a few districts and ensure its publication on June 30 next , the scheduled date  announced by the Apex court earlier.

The meeting presided over by Dr Ram Chandra Deka , President , Darrang Zila Sahitya was addressed by several veteran and young speakers including Dr Nagendra Nath Sarma , Phulendra Nath Saharia , Dr Jamaluddin Ahmed, Lohit Ch Kalita , Sahir Bhuya , Bhabesh Kalita , Khanindra Rajbongshi , Shahnawaz Ahmed etc . Dr Nagendra Nath Sarma, a veteran educationist , writer , thinker and the President of All Assam Ex MLA Sanmilani in his discussion underlined how the small population of around 30,000 Hindus have been facing torture and they have been forced to wear only yellow clothes for their identification . He expressed doubt whether the Centre would bow down before the protest of  about one crore people of Assam . Strongly criticizing the role of all the twenty MPs both for the Loksabha and Rajya Sabha representing the State , Dr Sarma at the same time suggested the people to put pressure on them for inclusion of a special provision in the Bill so that even if the Bill is passed , Assam and the North East will not have to bear the burden of the non Muslim refugees .

The speakers also discussed many other issues like the average percentage of Assamese speaking people in the State recorded in the last census as nearly 48 and its downward trend in each subsequent census on the other hand the increase of average Bengali speaking people from 21 percent to  27 in last two census, negligence to this official language even in the public sign boards of the Deputy Commissioners’ offices in the districts of Barak Valley , issue of work permits for the people whose names will not be included in  the NRC , maintaining peace , harmony and brotherhood among all the communities and religions living in the State like before and developing work culture among the Assamese people . All the speakers equally criticized both the BJP and the Congress parties alleging them of playing with the sentiments of the people of the State only for their political gain . The meet which began with the welcome address by Mukut Ch Hazarika , Secretary , Darrang Zila Sahitya Sabha while News Editor of Dainik Janambhumi , Guwahati explained the objectives of organizing such ‘Raijmel’ on these two burning issues across different small towns and rural areas of the State and carrying forward their opinion through their news media .