Guwahati: Though it took too long, the 855 martyrs of Assam Agitation that culminated in 1985, were paid obeisance by the state government on Saturday in front of a massive gathering and in presence of members of the martyrs families and leaders of all the organisations which had participated in Assam Agitation.
The BJP-led government in Assam headed by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday paid rich tributes to 855 martyrs of Assam Agitation against unabated illegal migration to Assam who had laid down their precious life during those heady days of 1979-1985.
In a central Swahid Divas organized in a big way in the city on Saturday, Sonowal government handed over Rs 5 lakh each as token financial assistance to the next of kin of those 855 martyrs besides making an announcement to set up a memorial for these martyrs.
In this day in 1979, the first martyr of Assam Agitation, Khargeswar Talukdar had laid down his life at the hands of Assam police in presence of then DIG of Assam Police K PS Gill.
Addressing the event, chief minister Sonowal who was a leader of the All Assam Students ‘Union (AASU) that led Assam Agitation, said, “The supreme sacrifice made by the martyrs of Assam Agitation will be well complemented only when the indigenous people of Assam irrespective of caste, creed and religion remain united in the process of building a strong and resourceful state of Assam within India.
He said the sacrifice made by these martyrs and Assam Agitation will soon become part of high school curriculum in the state so that the progency couls take pride in it.
By sustaining the non-violent Assam Agitation for six long years, the people of Assam have proved before the world how tenacious they could be in the greater interest. The Assam Agitation against illegal migration was not only an agitation to protect the identity and rights of indigenous people of Assam, but also a movement to protect sovereignty of the country against the onslaught of illegal migratnts on the country in this Northeast corner.
Assam’s health, education, finance etc., minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma who was also a leader of the AASU during his students’ days, told the huge gathering, “ The sacrifice made by the 855 martyrs of Assam Agitation will go waste unless the state can be purged of illegal migrants and rights of the indigenous people could be well protected.”
He said payment financial assistance of Rs five lakh to martyrs’ families was nothing compared to their sacrifice for the people of the state and promised many more measures for the welfare of martyrs’ families in days to come.
