Kolkata, Sept. 20 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday paid tribute to Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman, who died during protests at Darivit High School in North Dinajpur in September 2018, as the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) observed 'Bengali Language Day' across West Bengal.
In a social media post, Adhikari wrote: "I pay my humble tribute to Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman, who sacrificed their lives for the Bengali language."
The ABVP, the student wing of the RSS, organised programmes at several locations in Kolkata, including College Street, Shyambazar Five Point Crossing, Hazra and Jadavpur University, to commemorate the two former students of Darivit High School. The organisation also organised a march from the school in Islampur.
ABVP demanded that the investigation into the incident be completed promptly and impartially and that legal action be taken against those responsible.
ABVP central working committee member Shubhabrata Adhikari said the organisation would seek official recognition for September 20 as Bengali Language Day. Programmes focusing on the Bengali language, literature, culture and heritage would be held at colleges and universities across the state for a week from September 21.
Meanwhile, Paschim Banger Jonye, an NGO, organised a programme at the Rabindra Sadan complex, where author Mohit Roy demanded that September 20 be declared 'Bangla Bhasha Diwas'. He said the organisation would appeal to the Bangla Akademi for the same. Poet Binayak Banerjee also addressed the programme.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.