Guwahati, Dec. 29: Leader of the Opposition in Assam Debabrata Saikia today wrote to the Union minister of state for culture and tourism, Mahesh Sharma, seeking proper action against the RSS for allegedly violating the sanctity of the historical Kareng Ghar by holding its sakha and sloganeering there on Sunday.
The Kareng Ghar, an Archaeological Survey of India-protected site in Sivasagar district, was the royal palace of the Ahom kings when Garhgaon was their capital.
The RSS session had evoked widespread reaction from several organisations, including the All Tai Ahom Students Union and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad. The organisations had held separate demonstrations at Kareng Ghar yesterday, criticising the RSS for allegedly using the site to "promote" Hindutva.
Saikia, who is also the leader of Assam Congress Legislature Party, urged Sharma to invoke Article 49 of the Constitution, which provides for protection of monuments and places of national importance. Saikia said legal steps were necessary because the people of Assam take great pride in their heritage such as the Rangghar, Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar and the Charaideo Maidam (all built during the 600 years of Ahom rule), Kamakhya temple, Azan-Pir-Dargah and Hayagriva Madhava Temple at Hajo, "all of which are proud symbols of the Assamese identity".
Given the gravity of the matter and to check a repeat, Saikia hoped Sharma would pass necessary instructions to protect the sanctity of the heritage site so that the "people who imperilled the monument with their unbecoming" conduct are taken to task.
"Proper steps from your end will also contribute to peaceful coexistence of all communities living in Assam and upholding of the secular credentials as enshrined in our Constitution," Saikia said.
Santanu Pujari, Jorhat BJP president and former RSS pracharak, defended the RSS by asserting it was a socio-cultural organisation with nationalist sentiments and involved in nation-building. "It has nothing to do with religion or caste. The RSS members had participated in a cleanliness drive (shramsadhana programme) and chanted Bharat Mata ki jai. What is wrong with that ? Those criticising the RSS have no nationalist feelings," Pujari said.