Language Controversy Erupts in Assam as Minister Ranjeet Dass Faces Backlash Over Durga Puja Banner Incident

Assam, India - October 19, 2023: Assam's Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development, Food and Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, Ranjeet Kumar Dass, sparked controversy during his visit to Hailakandi district in the Barak Valley. His remarks on the recent tearing of Bengali-language banners at Durga Puja Mandaps in the Brahmaputra Valley have stirred a heated debate.

Responding to a journalist's question about the torn banners, Minister Dass stated, "If you ignore Bengali language in Barak Valley and install banners in Assamese, there will be a reaction. When you erase the Assamese Language in Brahmaputra Valley and install banners in Bengali, the reaction is obvious."

Critics argue that the minister's comments misrepresented the incidents. The torn banners, featuring phrases like "Joy Shree Kedarnath" in Bengali, were placed by private Puja Committees, triggering controversy due to the use of Bengali, not the removal of Assamese.

Former Member of Parliament for Silchar, Sushmita Dev, condemned Minister Dass' statement as "ignorant" and addressed her concerns in a letter to Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. Dev highlighted the involvement of Lachit Sena cadres in tearing the Bengali banners and criticized the apparent inaction of Assam Police.

Dev emphasized, "There is no law forbidding the use of any language within the state, and the Assam Official Language Act of 1960 applies to official purposes only. Threatening individuals to use a specific language for private purposes is a criminal act." She urged the Chief Minister to take legal action against the culprits and expressed her dismay at growing intolerance towards languages other than Assamese.

In her concluding remarks, Dev called out Minister Dass' irresponsible analogy and urged the Chief Minister to address the issue promptly, warning of potential complicity if action is not taken. The incident continues to fuel discussions about language, tolerance, and cultural diversity in Assam.