Barely three weeks after Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) drew flak for organising a training session and shouting religious slogans inside a historical monument in Assam, Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday invited criticism by terming legendary Ahom General lachit Borphukan as a ‘defender of Hindutva’.
Purohit visited the lachit Borphukan Moidam, the crematorium and memorial built in the name of the legendary General, at lahdaigarh in Jorhat district and praised the general for his bravery while fighting against the invading Mughals in Assam.
While the Opposition Congress slammed the Governor for his comments, several organisations also appealed the Governor to study about the history of the State before commenting on the national heroes of Assam like lachit Borphukan.
“lachit Borphukan had fought very bravely against the Mughals. It is for this reasons that his name was written with golden words in the history. I say he is one of those brave hearts who saved the Hindutva in this part of the country,” Purohit had stated on Tuesday.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) spokesman Rituparna Konwar condemned the statement of Purohit and said that the Governor tried to project Ahom General lachit Borphukan as a savior of Hindutva and a spokesman of the Hindus. “There can be two reasons behind this—due to lack of knowledge about the rich history and culture of Assam or probably it is a pre-planned strategy made by the RSS to twist the history of the State through the Governor,” Konwar said.
“The very essence of Assamese society is the unity in diversity and the existing peace and brotherhood among different ethnic communities. There is no place for religious orthodoxies here unlike other parts of the country,” Konwar said.