Guwahati: Defying the diktat of separatist armed outfits, Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) urges the north-eastern citizens to hoist the national flag on 15 August and pay their respects to the martyrs, who made supreme sacrifices to create a sovereign nation called Bharat/India. The forum of nationalists issued the statement countering the boycott call of 77th Independence Day by some militant outfits of northeast India.
“It is our primary duty to pay respect to those martyrs who laid down their lives to free us all from the clutches of British colonial forces. When many individuals and organizations go on fighting for various rights and political benefits guaranteed by the Constitution of India, they often forget to salute the Tricolour which represents the sacrifice of millions of known and unknown martyrs during the freedom movement,” said the PPFA statement.
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The likes of Moje Riba, Matmur Jamoh, Kushal Konwar, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Kanaklata Barua, Mukunda Kakati, Nidhanu Rajbangshi, Piyali Phukan, Maniram Dewan, Piyali Barua, Kamala Miri, Lerela Boro, Madan Rauta, Hemoram Patar, Gunabhi Bordoloi, Thagi Sut, Balaram Sut, Sambhudan Phonglo, Beer Tikendrajit Singh, Paona Brajabashi, Tirot Singh, Shoorvir Pasaltha Khuangchera, Rani Gaidinliu, Jitendra Chandra Paul etc from the region, who fought selflessly against the abusive imperial forces to rule India for centuries, should not be forgotten, it added.
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Earlier, militant groups like Ulfa (Independent), NSCN/GPRN, KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, RPF, UNLF etc called for a general strike from the midnight of 14 August till the evening of 15 August. They asked the residents to keep inside their residences and avoid participating in any kind of I-Day celebrations in the region (they often describe it as the western part of south east Asia). Needless to mention that some banned armed groups regularly direct the north-eastern people to boycott the celebrations on I-Day or Republic Day as a mark of protests against New Delhi’s ‘colonial rule’ over the region.
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(Nava Thakuria is a senior Indian journalist who contributes to various media outlets including print and digital platforms of India and across the world.)
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