Pradip Dutta Roy, the founder president of All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students Association (ACKHSA), didn’t expect a tsunami of reactions from most parts of Brahmaputra valley; post his comments on Tuesday, last, to separate Barak from Assam.
Speaking to Northeast Now to clarify his position on Wednesday at his residence, founder ACKHSA president said, “I didn’t expect a wee bit that my comments would make such a lot of noises in various parts of Brahmaputra valley. I have not called a press meet on Tuesday at my residence to put forward a demand for separating Barak valley from Assam; instead I have just given a ‘threat’. I have said that if such sentiments keep doing the rounds against Bengalis in Assam, threats being given to the Bengalis for living in Assam then it best serves the purpose of separating Barak valley.”
“I have laid this statement before the state government. I have not said on my own that Barak needs to be separated. Hatred and ill feelings for Hindu Bengalis only, has forced me to say so, Pradip Dutta Roy said.
He went on and said, “Mrinal Hazarika, the pro-talks ULFA leader has commented in one of the television channels that I am a political ‘dalal’ and my comments should not be taken seriously. I don’t know whether Mrinal Hazarika has forgotten or not, or he lacks historical knowledge. I have served as founder president of ACKHSA from 1983 to 1994 and during my leadership managed to bring a central university in this region after a lot of agitations and struggle, and these achievements of mine he should not forget, as has not been forgotten by the people of Barak valley.”
Lashing out further at veteran ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika, former student leader Dutta Roy, said, “I am not weak. Yes, I have joined Congress and now work for the BJP, but, I am just a worker and hold no post within the party ranks. Mrinal Hazarika’s comments that whatever I say is being backed by Himanta Biswa Sarma and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, is completely false, and I strongly condemn it.”
On a final note before winding up his conversation with Northeast Now, Pradip Dutta Roy, said, “I cannot imagine Mrinal Hazarika to pass a remark of me being a political ‘dalal’. I would like to question Mrinal Hazarika as to for which party or wing, he is doing ‘dalali’ after surrendering in Assam? He is nothing but an agent of Bangladesh, and its Muslim fundamentalist groups. He himself is a Bangladeshi and should not call me a ‘dalal’, ever again.”