NEW DELHI, Nov 19: The Assam Government, after a long standing demand, finally gave its consent for renaming Silchar Railway Station as Bhasha Shahid Sation. Silchar Railway Station is one of the oldest railway stations in the region.
The reason for change in nomenclature of the railway station dates back to May 19, 1961, when police opened fire on protesters fighting for their mother language and 11 people died in the firing.
After the agitation, the State Government withdrew the circular passed earlier by it and gave official status to the Bengali language in the three districts of Barak Valley.
Union Home Ministry sources said for changing the nomenclature of Silchar railway station, a NOC was issued by the Assam Government yesterday. Political (A) Department joint secretary SK Roy in the letter no PLA 618/2008/29-A informed that the State Government has no objection in renaming the Silchar Railway Station as Bhasha Shahid Station.
It was reported that the Union Home Ministry had earlier written at least eight letters to the Assam Government for its consent or a no objection certificate for renaming the railway station. But the State Government was not giving any response to the matter.
Union Railway Ministry had already approved for renaming the railway station and the Barak Upatyaka Sanmilita Sanskritik Mancha, an umbrella of 52 social organizations, claimed that Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had assured them about it.
Moreover, State Excise and Boder Management Minister Gautam Roy also took the initiative on the issue and put pressure on the State Cabinet meeting.
The Assam-Bengal Railway brought Silchar into the Indian railway map in 1899 and the station is considered as one of the oldest in the Northeast.
The Tripura Government has also consented to rename the Silchar-Agartala Link Express as Language Martyrs’ Express, sources added. THE SENTINEL
No comments:
Post a Comment