DIBRUGARH, Dec 15 - All Dibrugarh Students� Union (ADSU) on Tuesday staged a massive protest in front of the All India Radio (AIR) station here against the alleged decision of Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation) to demote the station to only a relay station.
Joined by hundreds of casual radio artistes, local organisations and students from various colleges, ADSU organised a two-hour demonstration with placards and slogans. The ADSU viewed the decision of the Prasar Bharati as a ploy to suppress the exceptional and monumental ethno-cultural mosaic of the region so that the BJP-led government can implement its agenda with the directives from �Nagpur�.
Criticising the ruling government, Rupjyoti Borthakur, president of the ADSU, said that BJP is bent on destroying the language and regional character of the area. Borthakur also questioned the role of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in this regard. �How can the Centre snatch away the asset (AIR station) of the region, which is located in your own home district? What are you doing? Show us the courage by retaining the radio station as a full-fledged programme producing unit,� demanded Borthakur.
Syed Sadullah, a well-known senior radio artiste who has been attached with the radio station since its inception, said that the new generation will be pushed towards the dark days if the radio station is shut because this station has been promoting language, culture, literature and diverse talents of the region.
Among several others, Bulbul Dutta, president of All Dibrugarh District Students� Union, also spoke at the protest site.
The protesters later submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, through the district administration, demanding full-fledged programme producing radio station and dispersed.
