Upamanyu Hazarika, convenor of Prabajan Virodhi Manch, while condemning the dastardly killing of five Bengalis in Tinsukia district recently, said that the Assam Government was perceived as actively encouraging one side against another.
In a press statement Hazarika said that while the State Government has to take full responsibility for the increasing anarchy in the State, its policy and politics have added to the confusion.
“Suddenly new Bengali leaders and organisations have sprouted in the last few months who spare no efforts in incitement and inflammatory statements, persisting until it draws a reaction and then launch another round. Instead of taking preemptive action against such persons, the government acts belatedly to arrest Mrinal Hazarika and Jiten Dutta, adding to a growing perception amongst the public that it’s soft on the Bengali leaders,” Hazarika said.
He further said that this and its vehement opposition to the bandh call of October 23 against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, while on the other hand making overt noises of support to the bandh call in the wake of Tinsukia killings has only exacerbated the situation.
“The language conflict , between Assamese and Bengalis, long dead has revived in an alarming manner, ” the statement said.
The 2014 and 2016 elections in Assam were won by the BJP and allies on anti foreigners plank and with wholehearted support of Assamese and Bengali votes and to now create a rift between the communities is politically harmful to the BJP, and that too so close to the Lok Sabha elections.
Good politics lies in good law and order governance and increasing insecurity amongst all in Assam will cost the state government heavily in future elections, the statement further said.