Koch-Rajbangshi students to remain neutral

GOALPARA, April 10: Koch-Rajbangshi Yuva Chatra Sanmilanee has decided not to support any particular political party but to remain neutral in the ensuing Assembly election. Disclosing this stand of the Sanmilanee in the open session of two-day national convention of the organisation held here on Saturday at Dudhnoi playground, the acting general secretary S Rajbongshi appealed to the people to give a befitting reply to the neglect and deception to the race by Assam government and Central government in the election. While expressing concern at the role of the State and Central government the delegate session of the Sanmilanee vehemently criticised a resolution taken by the Barama conference of ABSU opposing ST status to the Koch-Rajbongshis and resolved to resort to vigorous agitation after the ensuing election. In this connection the president and secretary of the organisation were authorised to call a joint executive meeting with all Koch-Rajbangshi fronts and to constitute a national coordination committee. In another resolution, the Assam government was urged to erect a statue of Naranarayan at the site of Naranarayan Setu to commemorate the great hero. Participating in the open session held with Dhiresh Barman in the chair, Apurba Bhattacharyya, president of AJYCP defined the concept of Assamese nationality and criticised the government for not honouring the aspirations and sentiments of different indigenous ethnic groups of Assam. He lent support of his organisation to different ethnic groups of the State but cautioned all against divisive forces. He also advocated for political rights of the indigenous ethnic groups. He said he is not opposed to declaring all the ethnic group of Assam as ST. Dilip Rajbongshi, advisor of the Sanmilanee disclosed that although there are 70 lakh Koch-Rajbongshis in Assam and ordinances were promulgated four times declaring Koch-Rajbongshis of Assam as STs, it has not been enacted. Akan Chandra Rabha, Minister of Soil Conservation said that the all-India political parties are responsible for polluting the simple mindset of the ethnic groups of Assam. Referring to the different autonomous councils existing in Assam, Rabha said that the common feeling is that the autonomy has failed to give the desired security. Earlier, a colourful cultural procession paraded the main roads of the town. A souvenir was brought out on the occasion on April 7. The convention ended on April 8 with a cultural evening.