Kolkata-based political commentator Garga Chatterjee has apologized over his controversial remark describing Ahom kingdom founder Chaolung Sukapha as a “Chinese invader”.
Chatterjee posted a video on social media, informing that he has written to Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal expressing regret over his remarks.
“From the core of my heart, I unconditionally apologize to all the people of Assam including the Tai Ahom community through honourable Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for any previous social media post by me that may have unintentionally hurt anyone’s sentiment,” Chatterjee said.
“I expressed deepest regards and respect for Swargadeo Sukapha’s exemplary role as architect of Bor Ahom, forging greater Assamese identity and the rich legacy of his dynasty and civilization that is part and parcel of our diverse and great Indian civilization,” he further said.
I express my unconditional apology to the people of Assam, the Tai Ahom community and to Honorable CM of Assam @sarbanandsonwal
for any hurt in sentiment that I may have caused unintentionally through social media post. My apology statement video is below.https://t.co/b59cGBgXAT— Garga Chatterjee (@GargaC) August 22, 2020
The apology comes two months after Assam CM Sonowal directed the state police to arrest Garga Chatterjee for his defamatory remarks about Sukapha.
In a tweet on June 17, Chatterjee wrote, “Why does @sarbanandsonwal regularly celebrate a Chinese invader and his invading army? Why does banned separatist group ULFA also celebrate the Chinese invader? Do real Indians know that Indian tax money is being used by BJP in Assam to put up statues of a Chinese invader?”