Pathsala town
A view of Pathsala town, the headquarters of Bajali sub-division. Image credit - Northeast Now

The Assam government, which has made several announcements amid the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across the state, on Saturday announced to upgrade Bajali sub-division to a district.

The people of Bajali sub-division under Barpeta district had been demanding since long that the sub-division be upgraded to a district.

The people of the area would have celebrated after such an announcement, but they refrained from celebrating the moment as the state continues to boil in protest against the CAA.

The much-awaited demand of the people of the Bajali sub-division came true on Saturday after the state Cabinet approved the decision to upgrade the sub-division to a district.

The new Bajali district will have areas under the Sarukshetri, Bhabanipur and Patacharkuchi Legislative Assembly constituencies.

Pathsala is the headquarters of the Bajali sub-division.

Though the people did not celebrate after the announcement, the leaders of various organizations have welcomed the decision of the State Cabinet.

Mridul Talukdar, the Bajali district committee of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Parishad (AJYCP) expressed happiness at the announcement. However, he said they would continue to oppose the CAA.

Kalita Janagosthiya Sannmilani Student Union’s Anupal Dutta Pathak also expressed the same view.

Giridhar Choudhury, a senior advocate of Pathsala, also expressed happiness at the decision of the state Cabinet.

He said, “This was a much-awaited declaration”.

The advocate urged the government to start the works for the district with immediate effect for the greater interests of the people of the area.

Also read: Assam govt attempts to douse anti-CAA protests

Samudra Patgiri, the Barpeta district president of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) also welcomed the decision and urged the state government to execute the announcement soon.

However, he asserted that despite the announcement, they would continue their stir against the CAA.

BJP Bajali district president Nagen Choudhury while expressing his happiness after the declaration of Bajali sub-division as a district distributed sweets among the public.

Sasanka Talukdar is Northeast Now Correspondent in Pathsala. He can be reached at: [email protected]