Silchar, June 28: Several organisations today staged a demonstration in front of the office of Anup Kumar Das, inspector of schools, Cachar district circle here, demanding revocation of Dispur's order to scrap a number of holidays and reduce Puja holidays from the academic calendar of Barak Valley.
The organisations included the All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students' Association, Barak Valley Democratic Party, United Territory Demand Committee, Aamra Bangali, Purbanchal Gana Aikya Mancha and Separate Barak Demand Committee.
United Territory Demand Committee president Sanjit Debnath said the people of Barak Valley would not accept such discrimination by the government and would certainly launch democratic movements till the decision is revoked. He said the government, besides reducing holidays for Durga Puja from 20 days to a mere four days, has also scrapped holidays on some other occasions, including Shivratri, Manasa Puja, Chhath puja and Fateha Doaz Daham. It has also cancelled the holiday on Language Martyrs' Day, memories of which are etched in the minds of people here.
In protest against the government's decision, All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students' Association has also called a strike across Barak Valley tomorrow and all the aforementioned organisations have decided to support the movement.
Members of the organisations today gathered around 11.45am and raised slogans to express their fury over the state government's decision.
Speaking on the occasion, Rupam Nandi Purkayastha, adviser to the association's central committee, said the organisation, through its agitation, wants to send a strong message to Dispur and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that the people of this valley know how to fight for their rights. The dharna was called off around 1.10pm.
Silchar MLA and Assam Deputy Speaker Dilip Kumar Paul told The Telegraph this evening that he has spoken to Sarma recently and urged him to increase the number of holidays for Durga Puja vacation by adjusting with the summer vacation in schools. Sarma has assured Paul that he would look into the matter.
Paul said he is optimistic that the issue would be resolved very soon.
