Rich tributes were paid to 855 martyrs of Assam Agitation Saturday, with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal using the occasion to urge the people of the state to come united to protect the identity and culture of the state.
Speaking at the central Shahid Diwas function in Guwahati, Mr Sonowal highlighted that the Assam Agitation was the longest, non-violent successful people’s movement in post-Independence India, when the entire population of the state had come together against illegal migration from Bangladesh for the sake of the indigenous culture and identity of Assam.
The families of the 855 martyrs were handed one-time assistance of five lakh rupees each by the state government at the function.
State legislative Assembly Speaker Ranjit Kumar Dass, several ministers, including AGP president Atul Bora, MPs and MLAs were present at the central Shahid Diwas function.