By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: To protest against the communal carnage in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bongaigaon and Dhubri districts in Assam, an umbrella organization of Muslim groups in Kolkata `Forum for Peace and Harmony’ organized a rally and demonstration in the city on Friday, 27th July. Scores of people joined the protest rally against the atrocities on the Bengali speaking Muslims in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District of Lower Assam.
The protest rally started from Muslim Institute Hall and ended at the Metro channel of Esplanade East. Popular Front of India, Social Democratic Party of India, All Bengal Minority Council, Wasi Memorial Association, All Bengal Muslim Think Tank, Banglar Mukti Manch, Muslim Sangrakshan Manch and Naya Zamana participated in the protest rally and demonstration under the umbrella organization `Forum for Peace and Harmony’.
The Convener of the forum Advocate Anisur Rahman said, during the holy Ramzan Bodo Tribals have killed more than hundred people and several lakh Muslims are now living in refugee camps. He alleged that in presence of Para Military forces, Bodo Tribals killed innocent Muslims in Kokrajhar district in Assam in last few days. So, Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi should resign for failing to protect the Muslims and Central Government should punish the real culprits.
State Committee Member of Popular Front of India Hakkikul Islam said, at any cost government of Assam should stop the atrocities on Muslims.
The social organization of Ex Land & Land reform Minister of West Bengal and veteran CPIM leader Abdur Razzak Molla, `Naya Zamana’ also participated in this rally. General Secretary of Naya Zamana Dr Abdur Rashid Molla said Assam is a stronghold of communal forces which have been killing Muslims. Nellie carnage is the black spot in the history of Assam. That carnage was also conducted during the regime of Congress, and the present killings are also going on under the regime of Congress. He asked Congress to sack Chief Minister of Assam and send the Military all over the Bodoland areas.
All Bengal Muslim Think Tank state general secretary Md Shah Alam, Secreatary of the All Bengal Minority Council Md Kamruzzaman, Secretary of Wasi Memorial Association Dr Ahmed Ali, Secreatry of Banglar Mukti Manch Imtiaz Ahmed, Secretary of Muslim Sangrakshan Manch Abu Rida, SDPI state leader Taidul Islam also delivered speech at the demonstration.
After the demonstration a four-member delegation team led by Taidul Islam, Anisur Rahman, Abdur Rashid Molla and Dr Ahmed Ali met the Joint Secretary of the Governor of West Bengal and submitted a Memorandum. Mr S R Upadhyaya, the Joint secretary of Governor M K Narayanan discussed with the delegation team and assured them, this Memorandum will be handed over to Governor West Bengal and will send a message to Assam Government also in this regards.
In the memorandum, the Forum for Peace and Harmony has made the following demands:
— The tension should be immediately stopped under the intervention of central and state Government
— To protect the lives and property of the affected persons
— To identify the culprits and to punish them as early as possible for their illegal acts
— To compensate rupees 10 lakh cash to each family of killed persons and rupees 2 lakh cash to each of seriously injured persons and rupees 50 thousands cash to each of less injured persons
— To give full rehabilitation to the affected persons on their original area as early as possible with protection to avoid further repetition
A few days ago another protest rally was organized by All Bengal Minority Council in front of Assam Bhawan at Kolkata. They also organized the protest rally and a delegation met the Officer In-charge of Assam Bhawan of Assam Government office at Kolkata. Minority council demanded resignation of the chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi immediately.