Jerenga Pathar (Sivasagar), Feb. 9: Assam education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today warned Paramananda Rajbongshi, the principal in-charge of Guwahati's Kamrup College and former general secretary of Asam Sahitya Sabha, that Dispur would be compelled to ask him to resign if he continued to get involved in controversies.

"Rajbongshi should not cross the Lakshman rekha. If he continues to get involved in controversies, what will the students learn from him? Through Dhruba Jyoti Borah (who resigned from the Sabha president's post) I had to ask him indirectly to correct his conduct. He should now concentrate on teaching. If he continues to interfere, the government will be forced to ask him to resign," Sarma told reporters outside the Assembly today.

Last night, Rajbongshi was roughed up when he tried to enter the Sabha session's venue, compelling him to flee the area.

Borah, who was in another vehicle but had gone in the same procession along with Rajbongshi, also left the venue. The duo first went to Sivasagar town, around 4km from here, and then left Sivasagar.

Residents of lower Assam's Darrang district took out a rally against the incident, as Rajbongshi hails from Darrang. However, members of the All Assam Koibarta Students' Union were seen standing in front of Sivasagar Natya Mandir where the delegates' meeting was held.

"Rajbongshi's coming to Sivasagar was like a challenge from him to the people of the district. We warn him that if he comes again we will not hesitate to send him back," said Robi Kashyap, the president of the union.

The executive meeting of the Sabha, held at Sibsagar College in Joysagar today, condemned the incident. "The meeting also discussed the proposed vision document of the Sabha and thanked the state government and the people of Assam," said Dipanka Hazarika, a member of the executive committee.

Writer Lakhinandan Bora told The Telegraph that he would not preside over the January 11 open session.

"The reception committee has ignored me. On January 7, in a press conference in Guwahati, I asked the reception committee to inform me in writing that Rajbongshi would not participate in the session. But they did not send any such letter. Instead, I have seen members of the reception committee who wouldn't have any problem even if I don't preside over the session," said Bora over telephone from Guwahati.

The delegates' meeting, which was supposed to be held from 3.30pm, began three hours late.

Altogether 159 books were released today.

Inaugurating the statue of Padmanath Gohain Barua, the first president of the Sabha, writer Nahendra Padun said that the Assamese people would always cherish his memory.

Prahlad Chandra Tasa hoisted the centenary flag of the Sabha and asked the people to resolve to work in unison.

Visitors and delegates from across the state participated in the events on the second day of the session. The reception committee is expecting a huge crowd over the next three days.

Among others, a coin collection by Om Prakash Gattani from Jorhat and a collection of gramophone records by folklorist Anil Saikia at the exhibition drew visitors.

Wearing masks of Xahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa and Ranjit Borpujari, the first martyr of Language Movement and holding banners saying "Save Asam Sahitya Sabha" and "Save Assamese Language", a group of delegates staged a protest in front of Sivasagar Natya Mandir where the meeting was held.

"We want to restore the people's faith in the Sabha by overcoming all controversies. We feel that our language is becoming poorer gradually. We delegates should try to remove our weakness and the Sabha should concentrate more on the development of Assamese language and literature," said a protester.