SILCHAR: In a significant turn of events, an FIR has been filed against a local organizations in Silchar over alleged defacing of hoarding written in Assamese in an Barak Valley area predominated by Bengali people.
It is noteworthy that these hoardings and signposts used to be usually put up in three languages including Bengali. However, the new Jal Jeevan Mission were in Assamese only.
Videos of the incidents have been doing rounds where alleged activities can be seen climbing ladder and smearing black ink over the hoarding written in Assamese in front of Silchar Railway Station.
The visual also showed the activities writing 'Bangla Likhun' which means 'write in Bengali'
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Reportedly, Kaur said that an FIR has been lodged at Silchar Sadar station on Monday. She further added that appropriate action will be initiated against the culprits.
Reacting to the FIR, Barak Democratic Yuva Front leader Pradip Dutta Roy questioned the decision of using only Assamese language in a Government advertisement. A decision was taken to use Bengali as it is authorized official language post a language agitation in the 1960s.
Trinamool Congress leader Susmita Dev stated that she too doesn't support the act. However, she further said that the hoardings 'disrespected' the Language Act.
It is noteworthy that the Assam, Official Language Act of 1960 adopted Assamese as the official language along with including provisions for use of Bengali for administrative and official uses.
Several organisations on Sunday staged protest at Silchar Railway Station against the installation of a government awareness poster – Jal Jeevan Mission- written in Assamese language. The Barak Democratic Youth Front (BDYF) and All Bengali Students Youth Organisation (ABSYO) claimed that the Government poster which is written in Assamese violates the 1961 language pact that states Bengali language as the official language in Cachar and Barak Valley.