The Linguistic Minority Department of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) held a press conference on April 6, where it accused the state government of deliberately targeting and marginalizing the Bengali-speaking population in Assam. Members of the department claimed that the government has adopted a discriminatory approach toward Bengalis under the guise of administrative decisions, allegedly weakening the community’s representation and rights.
Department chairperson Dr. Partha Dey voiced serious concerns over what he called a systematic attempt to erase the socio-political presence of Bengali-speaking citizens. He said the government has repeatedly ignored the needs of linguistic minorities while framing policies related to education, employment, and identity verification. He described this pattern as deeply worrying, particularly in a state with a large and historically rooted Bengali population.
Dr. Dey pointed to the rising instances of Bengali-speaking individuals being marked as doubtful voters or ‘D-voters’ and alleged that the administration has not made sincere efforts to review these cases fairly. He claimed that even senior citizens with decades of government documents continue to face harassment. He insisted that the current political climate is breeding insecurity and fear among linguistic minorities.
The Congress leader also criticized recent policy moves that allegedly removed Bengali from several administrative processes. He said the decision to not use Bengali as an auxiliary language in certain districts, even where Bengalis form a substantial portion of the population, reflects a narrow political mindset. He urged the state government to adhere to constitutional provisions that guarantee equal respect and space for all linguistic groups.
Former MLA Abdul Khaleque, who joined the press meet, added that the state’s education policy continues to ignore the cultural and linguistic heritage of Bengali-speaking communities. He said that textbooks and curricula have excluded contributions of Bengali literary figures and social reformers, leading to an erasure of identity in the minds of younger generations. He demanded that the government introduce inclusive material that celebrates the diversity of Assam.
The department also accused the government of using the Waqf Amendment Bill and NRC-related actions as tools to marginalize linguistic and religious minorities. Members of the committee claimed that the state is misusing central laws and census data to selectively harass Bengalis, particularly those in lower economic brackets. They said the repeated delays in providing clarity on NRC appeals have left many families in limbo, unsure of their future.
In addition, the APCC’s Linguistic Minority Department alleged that job opportunities in public service remain elusive for Bengali-speaking candidates. They said that backdoor appointments and politically motivated recruitments have narrowed chances for competent aspirants from minority groups. The department promised to support affected individuals in filing legal and RTI cases to uncover recruitment irregularities.
Dr. Dey appealed to civil society organizations and human rights activists to recognize the growing marginalization of the Bengali community in Assam. He invited intellectuals, writers, and journalists to bring attention to the injustices through public discourse and documentation. He emphasized that the issue is not about politics, but about preserving the essence of an inclusive Assamese identity.
The APCC leadership plans to submit a detailed memorandum to the Governor of Assam, urging intervention against what they described as systematic discrimination. They will also raise the issue in the upcoming session of the Assam Legislative Assembly. According to Dr. Dey, the party will continue organizing awareness drives and legal workshops to empower the Bengali-speaking community.
The press conference ended with a call for unity among linguistic minorities across Assam. The Congress representatives said that collective resistance and democratic engagement are the only ways to counter what they described as a culture of exclusion. They reiterated their commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of all Assamese citizens, irrespective of language or heritage.
APCC leaders also highlighted the declining presence of Bengali-speaking officials in local governance and administrative bodies. They argued that transfers and appointments have become increasingly skewed, with qualified Bengali officers being sidelined or relocated to remote regions without justification. This, they said, further reduces the community’s participation in decision-making processes that affect their lives directly.
Members of the department drew attention to what they described as cultural marginalization, stating that the state government has shown minimal support for Bengali literature festivals, heritage centres, and language promotion events. According to them, despite repeated appeals, no concrete steps have been taken to preserve or promote the contributions of Bengali writers, historians, and artists within the larger cultural fabric of Assam.
They also accused the government of ignoring demands for setting up Bengali-medium higher secondary schools and colleges in districts with a sizable Bengali population. They said students are being forced to study in Assamese or English medium institutions, which affects their academic performance and leads to alienation. The Congress representatives argued that this amounts to a form of educational suppression disguised as policy reform.
AAMSU leaders, who expressed solidarity with the APCC, added that the identity crisis faced by linguistic minorities is not just a political issue but a human rights concern. They said the silence of the state machinery on these repeated allegations reveals an unwillingness to engage with minority concerns. They also warned that the continued neglect of linguistic diversity could lead to unrest and mistrust in the democratic process.
APCC spokespersons emphasized that the Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights to all linguistic groups and that the government’s current stance violates both the spirit and the letter of those protections. They demanded an independent commission to examine all recent policy actions that have allegedly disadvantaged Bengali-speaking populations in Assam.
The Congress leaders announced that they will launch a state-wide campaign to raise awareness about the discrimination and gather testimonies from affected citizens. They plan to submit these cases to national commissions on minority rights and linguistic diversity. They said this will help establish a record of the injustices and generate national attention on the issue.
Finally, the party reiterated its belief in peaceful democratic resistance and urged all communities in Assam to support efforts that uphold pluralism and unity. They promised to continue pressing the government to change its approach and reaffirm its commitment to all of Assam’s linguistic and cultural communities.