Bengali Jatiya Parishad forms Tinsukia panel, seeks greater political representation

GUWAHATI, Sept 6 — The Tinsukia district committee of the Bangali Jatiya Parishad was constituted on Sunday with a 31-member body, as the organisation called for greater political representation and protection of the rights of Hindu Bengalis in Assam.
The meeting, presided over by Central Committee General Secretary Uttam Das, was addressed by president Chitta Paul, who alleged that the political representation of Bengalis had declined despite the community’s sizeable population in the state.
Paul claimed that while three to four Hindu Bengali ministers had traditionally found a place in Assam Cabinets, the present government had only one minister representing a community of nearly 70 lakh people. He also alleged that Bengali representation in electoral nominations and the Assembly had declined.
Central General Secretary Pankaj Kumar Dev urged Bengali ministers, MLAs and MPs to actively raise issues concerning the community’s socio-economic development and political rights. He called for greater unity between Bengalis of the Barak and Brahmaputra valleys.
Uttam Das demanded the immediate constitution of a “Bengali Autonomous Council (Satellite)” to safeguard the socio-economic and political interests of Hindu Bengalis, while stressing harmonious relations with all communities.
Vice-President Apon Das raised the issue of people continuing to face the “D-voter” tag, while educationist Pulakesh Basu highlighted challenges confronting Bengali-medium schools.
Several others, including Shankar Das and Surojit Das, also addressed the meeting.