Take action against 'Chalo Paltai' propagators, Sabha tells government

GUWAHATI: The Asom Sahitya Sabha (ASS) has urged the state government to take action against those behind the 'Chalo Paltai' campaign launched on the social media with a call to rout Assam language by making Bengali the dominant language in Assam.
Through the campaign, launched on a Facebook page reportedly by a few people from West Bengal and Assam recently, the group is inviting Assamese-speaking people to mention their mother tongue as Bengali during the next Census to be held in 2021.The social media group is allegedly targeting people from the riverine areas of Assam whose parents were Bengali speakers but have gradually endorsed Assamese as their mother tongue.
Top leaders of the literary body met chief secretary Alok Kumar on Tuesday, urging him to take prompt action against such plans to create unrest on linguistic lines.
Talking to the media here on Wednesday, Sabha president Paramananda Rajbongshi said Assamese and Bengali languages have their roots in the old Kamrupi language that is spoken in the present-day Assam Valley. It also clarified that alongwith Assamese, it's is equally accountable to safeguard the Bengali language, which is loved by the people of Assam.
"An evil force is working behind the scenes on the social media. This can lead our society towards a linguistic conflict and create misunderstanding between people of the two communities. Raising concern over such a conspiracy, the Sabha has urged the Assam government to uproot such unholy elements," said Rajbongshi.
"Kumar assured our delegation that the government will take stringent action against elements trying to disrupt peace and harmony in the state through mischievous campaigns," added Rajbongshi.
He said the 'Chalo Paltai' campaign will automatically die down if the Assam government and regional organizations extend support to the Sabha's endeavour to promote Assamese language among the residents of char areas, adivasis and tea tribes, who are willing to accept Assamese as their mother tongue and lingua franca in the 2021 census.
"The Sabha is in touch with the people living in the char areas as well as the tea tribes and adivasis. They have assured us to endorse Assamese as their mother tongue and lingua franca. It's now clear that Assamese-speaking people won't be reduced to a minority in the next census as feared earlier. If the Assam government and other regional organizations support our initiative, the percentage of Assamese speaking population may go up to 70% in the 2021 census," said Rajbongshi.