Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain reiterated that the Bengali-speaking Hindu community people in Assam have not created “any threat to the people of Assam while the alarmingly increasing population of Bengali-speaking Muslim population is posing as a great threat to the identity of the people of the State”.
Talking to media persons here on Wednesday, BJP leader Gohain, who came to Mangaldai to participate in the inaugural function of the new building of the Kendriya Vidyalaya at Mangaldai, said, “It is the duty of the government and every Indian citizen to protect the Bengali-speaking Hindu people and that is the reason the government has decided to amend the Citizenship Act.”
Union Minister Gohain also said, “The BJP is committed to ensure the rights of every Indian citizen including the sons of the soil and that is the reason that five tribal representatives have been given berth in the State Cabinet.”
Gohain strongly criticized the previous AGP government for offering ministerial berth in the State Cabinet to Abdul Muhib Mazumadar, who had drafted the IM(DT) Act.
On being asked about his misbehaviour to a retired teacher in a public meeting in Nagaon recently, Gohain denied the charge of using the word ‘nonsense’ to the former teacher as reported.
“He was (the retired teacher) not invited to the dais for delivering speech, yet he forcibly delivered speech accusing the government which we can never tolerate and I only said ‘what nonsense are you are saying’’,” said Gohain.
“The teacher in question could have personally told me about his grievances. By forcibly addressing a public meeting, he had violated the etiquette and discipline of the society,” he further said.
Union Minister Gohain also said that if everyone insists on seeking apology he was ready for it. Regarding the inclusion of Darrang district in the map of Indian railway, he said that preliminary survey has already been ordered.