Assam: BJP Celebrates RSS Leaders instead of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala on 'Xilpi Diwas'

Guwahati, January 21, 2019:

Continuing their trend of replacing Assamese culture with saffron elements, Assam BJP workers on January 17 observed 'Shilpi Diwas' by honoring RSS ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya instead of Assamese cultural doyen Jyoriprasad Agarwala (17 June 1903–17 January 1951).

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In pictures that are now being widely circulated online, the workers of the BJP, reportedly from Kamalpur in Kamrup district, hung portraits of the former RSS leader and paid tribute to him.

This development has left the people of Assam in shock as 'Xilpi Diwas', which is celebrated evach year to mark the death anniversary of Jyotiprasad Agarwala, has nothing to do with the RSS or its ideology.

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"This proves their mentality. Maybe they do not know Agarwala because they do not know him. Or perhaps, they are doing this on purpose. They do not have any responsibility towards art or artistes or Assam. This shows their ignorance", said All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi, reacting to the viral photo.

Gogoi further warned that the replacement of Assam's cultural icons with RSS figureheads signals troubling times ahead for Assam. "There are apprehensions that the BJP will erase the culture and history of Assam after CAA -- things like these prove that it will, in fact, become a reality."

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