The journalists will hoist the National flag at 11 am at the press club premises, according to a statement issued soon after the militants' diktat, which will be followed by the performance of patriotic songs.
WHENEVER INDIA'S Independence Day and Republic Day approach, the armed militant groups of Northeast try their best to impose a ban on the auspicious days. So when the Nation was preparing for the forthcoming I-Day, at least five banned outfits of the trouble-torn region had issued the diktat calling for a 15 hour general strike staring from the early hours of August 15.
But the journalists and patriotic citizens of Assam have decided to hit back at the militants as usual and maintained their preparations for the celebration at Guwahati Press Club with various programmes. The journalists will hoist the National flag at 11 am on the press club premises, according to a statement issued soon after the militants’ diktat, which will be followed by the performance of patriotic songs.
It may be mentioned that militant outfits including the dreaded United Liberation Front of Asom issued a statement recently and asked the people of Northeast not to celebrate the I-Day. The statement, sent to media houses, argued that the security forces (of India) had created a war like situation in Assam. Hence they appealed to the common people to boycott and prevent the celebration as a mark of solidarity against Indian colonial occupation and military repression in the region.
The general strike, supported by National Democratic Front of Boroland, Kamatapur Liberation Organisation, Manipur People's Liberation Front and Tripura People's Democratic Front too, exempted the essential services like medical, water, electricity, fire brigade,
However, the Journalists’ Forum, Assam came with the declaration that Assam had always been a part of the history of India. The immense sacrifice of the martyrs from Assam, who laid down their lives in the freedom-movement, needs to be recognized and the I-Day and R-Day are two such occasions to pay our homage to those national heroes.
“The great patriots like Kushal Konwar, Kanaklata, Mukunda Kakoti, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani and many brave hearts from Assam laid down their lives opposing the British colonial rulers,” a JFA statement said adding, “And because of their supreme sacrifice we are an independent nation today and we have the moral duty and responsibility to pay tributes to the martyrs and salute the National Tricolour on these special days.”
