Several Bengali organizations of the Barak valley in Assam are trying to rope in the Bengali community in neighbouring West Bengal in their crusade against the process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) presently underway in the State.
These Bengali organizations of the Barak valley have upped their ante against the NRC updating process after publication of the first draft on the midnight of December 31.
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Notably, a section intellectuals, political leaders, social activists and educationists from the Barak valley are trying to present a picture that the entire process of NRC update is going against the Bengalis residing in Assam. They are also trying to garner support from the entire Bengali community in the country to jeopardize the NRC updating process.
With such a design in mind, a huge conglomeration from the Barak valley is planning to hold a massive convention in Kolkata on January 12.
The convention will be attended, among others, by former Assam University vice chancellor Tapodheer Bhattacharyya.
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The main organizers of the convention are Hemendu Bikash Choudhury and Nitish Biswas. A release issued by these two convenors stated that the process of updating the NRC is Assam is a conspiracy to evict Bengalis living in the State. The convention is scheduled to be chaired by president of all India Bengalee language forum, Dr D K Sinha.
Notably, the Bengalis of Barak Valley have suddenly become pro-active and agitational after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made instigating comments on the on-going process of NRC update in the State.
Sushmita Deb, the parliamentarian from Barak Valley and president of All India Mahila Congress also alleged discrimination of Bengalis in the NRC update process. Deb further said, the process of updating the NRC in the State will displace most of the Bengalis residing in the Barak Valley as most of them will not find their names in the updated NRC.
A protest rally was also taken out in her leadership against the NRC update process in Barak Valley just two days ago. Former Assam Minister Ajit Singh also took part along with Sushmita Deb, apart from several other prominent personalities of Barak Valley.
On the contrary, the Bengalis residing in the Brahmaputra Valley had vehemently criticized the inflammatory statements made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and accepted the NRC update process with utmost positivity.
However, the Bengali Yuba Chatra Federation that had earlier opposed Mamata’s statement has also joined the bandwagon lately in the conspiracy to jeopardize the NRC update process.
The Federation had on November 9 last year held a meeting in Kolkata expressing apprehension ovar the fate of Bengalis residing in Assam post-NRC update. It is learnt they had also sought intervention from the West Bengal Chief Minister into the matter. The said meeting was addressed by federation leaders, advisor Chitta paul and president Dipak Dey.
However, when Mamata’s statement drew flak and widespread condemnation in Assam, the organization is maintaining a double standard.