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Sept. 11: Agniputra, a youth organisation, will hold a meeting in the city next month to mobilise support from different sections of people, to further their campaign to include the names of the eight northeastern states or the word “Uttarpurbanchal” in the national anthem.
Members of the organisation had even carried out a demonstration on the eve of Independence Day, demanding that the Centre and Dispur initiate the process to incorporate the names of all the northeastern states in the national anthem.
They had also submitted a memorandum stating their demands before the deputy commissioner of the Kamrup (metro) district administration, Ashutosh Agnihotri.
“We are steadfast in our campaign to include the name of the northeastern states in the national anthem. The region is an integral part of the country and people here contribute as much as people in other states for the development of the country. But even after 65 years of Independence, there is no mention of the Northeast in the national anthem, while ironically there is a mention of China, which is a different country,” said Pradip Kalita, the president of the organisation.
To garner more support for its cause, the youths’ organisation is now keen on involving the students’ organisations of the northeastern states and experienced individuals from different fields in the forthcoming awareness meeting.
“We have approached a few students’ organisations, including the All Assam Students Union (AASU), from the states and they have extended full support to the campaign. We are also deliberating with these organisations on the best way to proceed with the process so that our demands are heard. The awareness meeting that will take place next month is the second phase of the campaign, where members of these student organisations and senior citizens from different fields will speak on the issue. We have always supported all issues related to the welfare of the northeastern people and will continue to do so,” said Kalita.
The organisation is also keen on involving school and college students, who it hopes, can greatly contribute in making the campaign a success.
“We are trying to involve as many students as we can. Every youngster here should be proud of hailing from this region and push for inclusion of the names of the eight states in the national anthem. The students can garner a lot of support on this issue by motivating the general masses,” said Kalita.
The members of Agniputra also claimed that the memorandum they had submitted before the Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner has reached chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who they hope will forward it to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon.
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