News Reporter
Minister Ranjeet Kumar Das Clarifies Intent Behind Bengali Text Banners During Durga Puja
Silchar, Assam – 29 October , 2023: The controversy surrounding the removal of banners with Bengali text during Durga Puja celebrations at various locations in Assam took center stage recently. Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Law and Justice Department, Ranjeet Kumar Das, who was in Barak Valley to oversee departmental activities and set future targets, addressed the issue.
At the Cachar District Commissioner's office, Das responded to media inquiries, expressing his view that the installation of banners in Bengali text was not intended to harm the Assamese language in any way.
He emphasized, "Assam is a land of a multicultural and multilingual environment in which both the official and associate languages must be respected. I firmly believe that the incident of installing banners in Bengali text during Durga Puja celebrations was not intentional to hurt sentiments related to the Assamese language in any way whatsoever."
He further pointed out the harmonious coexistence of Bengali-speaking people in Brahmaputra Valley, where they have embraced the Assamese language into their life and culture. Many children from this community attend Assamese medium schools, reflecting the cultural integration between the two regions.
Das added, "Whatever has happened during the Durga Puja celebrations must be due to misunderstandings which should be resolved for the larger interest."
The removal and tearing of banners in Bengali text at various Durga Puja pandals in the state have sparked significant reactions in Barak Valley. Prominent figures such as former Silchar MP Sushmita Dev and North Karimganj MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purakyastha, along with various associations, including Barak Upotyokya Banga Sahitya o Sanskriti Sammelan and Amra Bangali, have expressed their deep concerns about the developments.
Shifting focus, Minister Ranjeet Kumar Das also announced that the state plans to distribute 40 lakh new ration cards by December this year. A total of 80,000 cards will be allocated in Cachar district, and the distribution process is already underway. The minister was accompanied by Lakhipur MLA Kaushik Rai, Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty, Amitabh Rai, the president of Cachar Zilla Parishad, and Cachar District Commissioner Rohan Kumar Jha during his visit.
The minister's remarks and the ongoing discussions emphasize the importance of maintaining cultural harmony and understanding in Assam, a diverse state with a rich tapestry of languages and traditions. The hope is that misunderstandings can be resolved to foster unity among its multicultural population.