GUWAHATI: After creating much hype about a large convention in Guwahati on November 17, it seems Bengali organisations are not moving ahead with the meeting, as no convention has been scheduled in the first place.
Several Bengali organisations had called for a convention to garner support for the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, at the Khanapara Veterinary College playground in Guwahati. Later, Assam government intervened and didn’t allow the proposed convention fearing threat to law and order situation. Also, on October 26, representatives of Bengali organisations met the Axom Sahitya Sabha office-bearers and cancelled the said convention.
“The startling fact is, no organisation has made any request to the Veterinery College authorities for organizing any event, at the Khanapara grounds on November 17. In fact, we tried to make an application for the ground on October 24. Our request was rejected on the basis that the ground was reserved for the Veterinery College’s college week on November 17 and a few days before and after that,” said Upamanyu Hazarika, Convenor, Prabajan Virodhi Manch.
Raising concern on the rumors that could create panic among masses Hazarika said, “Before organising any such event and announcing the same in public, the venue has to be ensured by taking permission for reserving the ground for the event. However, in this case, no such permission was taken but there was massive publicity that Bengalis would organise a big rally. This led to a massive unrest and a lot of hue and cry across Assam. It was obvious that this rally was never supposed to happen,” Hazarika added.
“The government is to be blamed for the mental harassment of people of Assam. Even after knowing that no permission was taken for the rally, Dispur, however, maintained that no such rally would be allowed by the government. It is a conspiracy on part of the government to create a rift among the populace and shy away from the real issue – illegal immigration,” complained Hazarika.