Guwahati, Dec. 14: Asam Sahitya Sabha president Dhruba Jyoti Borah today invited its former presidents for a meeting to tide over the present crisis.

The former presidents had spoken out against the extension of the tenure of the Sabha's executive body by a year and "violation of rules" to celebrate the centenary of the literary body in February next year in Upper Assam's Sivasagar district.

Borah told The Telegraph today that he had invited former Sabha presidents - Nagen Saikia, Birendra Nath Dutta, Homen Borgohain, Lakhinandan Bora and Kanaksen Deka - for a meeting here on December 20.

Except Saikia, the other four former presidents have presented a letter signed by them and 18 writers and academicians demanding formation of a new executive body. Lending his support to the demand, Saikia on Monday resigned from the committee formed to write a history on the Sabha's journey. Lakhinandan Bora also resigned from the committee yesterday.

A statement released to the media this evening said Sabha vice-president Parag Kumar Thakur and legal adviser S.K. Roy would attend the meeting.

On the other hand, a meeting of the reception committee for the centenary celebrations also decided to impose a blanket ban on Sabha general secretary Paramananda Rajbongshi.

The move comes after Rajbongshi's name got involved in the suicide case of a former accountant of the Sabha and in a family dispute. Many also blame him for "running the Sabha according to his wishes". Representatives of several organisations last evening also demanded a ban on Rajbongshi.

The developments have thrown the Sabha into a controversy at a time it was preparing to celebrate its centenary in a grand manner. "I invited them for a meeting on December 18, a Sunday. But it was postponed to December 20 considering everyone's convenience," Borah said. He expressed hope that the meeting would be able to pull the Sabha out of controversy.

"We are keeping all channels open for discussion. It is our responsibility to deal with the controversy," he said.

Borah, though, agreed that the controversy has marred the centenary preparations but said everything will be organised according to schedule.

A few life members today came out in support of the demand of the former presidents and writers to dissolve the executive body of the Sabha.

Bail plea rejected

Jorhat district and sessions judge V.K. Chandak today rejected the anticipatory bail application of Rajbongshi and Sabha head assistant Biren Goswami in connection with the "suicide" case of Rajendra Nath Dutta, former head assistant-cum-accountant in Jorhat.

The duo had moved the court for anticipatory bail on November on 29 after police registered two cases in Jorhat police station - one of unnatural death and the other against Rajbongshi and Goswami under Section 306 of the IPC (abetment to suicide) - after Dutta's family members filed an FIR against Sabha office-bearers accusing them of forcing him to take his life.

Additional reporting by Wasim Rahman in Jorhat and Kongkon Bora in Sivasagar