GUWAHATI, Nov 21 - The government today relieved Dhirendra Nath Chakravartty of his post as the adviser to the government mouthpiece Raijor Batori, but the veteran journalist remained unfazed, saying he had �nothing to lose.�
The decision to relieve the 90-year-old journalist from the post came after his controversial comments on the Assam-Nagaland border dispute and an ugly spat with activist Kamal Medhi.
Two separate police cases have been filed against Chakravartty in the city, one by Kamal Medhi.
Speaking to The Assam Tribune this evening, Chakravartty, however, clarified that he had only suggested to the State government to be more aggressive in handling the situation in the inter-state border.
�In a meeting attended by the Chief Minister, I had made a reference to the incursions of Naga miscreants and had suggested that a competent DIG should be allowed to handle the situation to protect the hapless tribals, tea garden workers and Nepali inhabitants along the Assam-Nagaland border. The police should also be given powers to resort to firing to tackle the hostile Nagas if necessary,� he said.
�I don�t have any personal loss, none of my relatives are exposed to the tyranny on the inter-state border. I am just concerned about the life and property of the people living there,� he added.
Chakravartty also said he was not appointed as adviser of the government�s weekly of his volition. �I had refused to take any remuneration. I have nothing to say if the government decides to withdraw my membership, but people should know that I took personal initiative to bring out the weekly in 1975 without any government order,� he added.
The veteran journalist also said he was retiring from public life and would be associated only with the Sahitya Sabha and senior citizens� body.