State Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is already embroiled in controversy with his recent comment about ‘cancer patients and divine justice’, continues to capture the headlines, and this time, makes a blunder at a book launch in New Delhi.
At a book launch of ‘The Last Battle of Saraighat’ at New Delhi, the State Education Minister quoted incorrect facts.
The event was hosted by Shekhar Gupta, Founder of The Print, who termed Himanta as an AASU and an ULFA Leader who changed parties from Congress to BJP with a leap larger than Hanuman’s, who according to mythology leapt from India to Sri Lanka.
Sarma who was speaking at a book release function in New Delhi was talking about the contribution of the Assamese in the Indian freedom struggle. Sarma in his speech said that Kanaklata Baruah was killed by the Britishers in Sootea Thana and as she died and the tricolour fell from her hand, Mukunda Barman jumped in her place to take the flag where he too was shot and both the freedom fighters lost their lives.
However, it needs to be mentioned that it was not Sootea Thana where Kanaklata Baruah died, but Gohpur Thana and the person with her was not Mukunda Barman, but was Mukunda Kakati.
Alfter the minster realized his mistake; he quickly resorted to Twitter and tendered an apology
নতুন দিল্লীত অনুষ্ঠিত এক সভাত ভাষণ দিওতে শ্বহীদ মকুন্দ কাকতিৰ নামটো মই মকুন্দ বৰ্মন বুলি উল্লেখ কৰিলো , অনিচ্ছাকৃত এই ভুলৰ বাবে ক্ষমা প্ৰাৰ্থী
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 24, 2017
However, tweeting an apology will only go so far. As the Education Minster, is it too much to ask that he simply gets his facts right?
