Guwahati: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Assam on February 14, the Barak Democratic Front (BDF) has sought clarification from the ruling party on steps taken for the development of Bengalis in the Northeast and demanded the inclusion of a Bengali Member of Parliament from Northeast in the Union Council of Ministers.
In a statement, BDF chief convener Pradip Dutta Roy said the BJP frequently highlights and honours prominent Bengali figures, including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Rabindranath Tagore. However, he alleged that the socio-economic and political conditions of Bengalis in Northeast India, particularly in Assam, continue to remain neglected, with little response from state and central leadership.
Dutta Roy said that since Independence, there had traditionally been representation of at least one Bengali MP from the Northeast in the Union Council of Ministers. He cited past ministers, including Arun Kumar Chanda, Moinul Haque Choudhury, Rashida Haque Choudhury, Santosh Mohan Dev and Kabindra Purkayastha as examples. He said this practice had historical roots, linked to the settlement of large numbers of displaced refugees in the region and an informal understanding to ensure their representation at the national level.
He claimed that despite this, the overall socio-economic condition of Bengalis in the Northeast has not seen significant improvement and noted that no Bengali MP from the region has been included in the Union Council of Ministers over the past decade. The BDF has urged the Prime Minister to prioritise the issue and demanded that one of the three sitting MPs from the Barak Valley be inducted into the Union Cabinet.
“Currently, there are three elected MPs from the Barak Valley, and BDF demands that one of them be immediately inducted into the Union Cabinet,” he added.
BDF Media Cell Convener Joydeep Bhattacharjee said the situation of Bengali Hindus in Assam has not improved substantially during the last ten years of BJP rule. He pointed to the continuing issue of declared voters (D-voters), pending cases in foreigners’ tribunals, and the unresolved status of an estimated six to seven lakh Bengali Hindus excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
He also said that although Bengali Hindus make up around 15 per cent of the population in the Brahmaputra Valley, their representation in the 111 Assembly constituencies remains minimal. He added that Bengali organisations have demanded that the BJP field Bengali Hindu candidates in at least 10 Assembly seats.
Bhattacharjee said key concerns in the Barak Valley include floods, connectivity and unemployment, but claimed that the ruling party’s performance in addressing these issues over the past decade has been inadequate. He said there has been no meaningful progress on alternative railway lines, road connectivity, airfare regulation, industrial development, local job reservations or structured skill training for youth.
He further alleged that there have been no comprehensive initiatives for the development of the tea industry and agriculture in the valley, and said urgent measures, such as river dredging and upgrading urban drainage systems to prevent flooding in Barak, have not been implemented.
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Stating that reliance on religious polarisation alone would not be sufficient, Bhattacharjee said issues affecting Bengalis and the Barak Valley would play a decisive role in the upcoming elections. He urged the Prime Minister and Assam Chief Minister to clearly state their position on these matters.
