Northeast Dispatch: The history of Jerenga Pothar

Northeast Dispatch

NORTHEAST DISPATCH

Dear Reader,   The poll bugle has truly sounded in Assam today as both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah arrived here. While HM Shah is addressing rallies in Kokrajhar and Nalbari, PM Modi visited the historic Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar to launch an Assam government initiative to distribute over one lakh land pattas (titles) to local indigenous communities. PM Modi’s choice of venue is interesting — this was where the legendary Ahom princess Joymoti sacrificed her life in the 17th century. Moreover, Sivasagar — and Upper Assam — is also seen as representing the Assamese, and was marked by strong opposition to Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Read more in our explainer here.    The run up to the visit was not without drama either: the All Assam Students’ Union, the state’s most influential students group, took out torch rallies in protest. The newly-formed regional political parties, Assam Jatiya Parishad and Raijor Dal, too questioned the BJP government’s “unfulfilled promises”, particularly on the hot-button illegal immigration issue in the state.   From Manipur & Meghalaya   Two editors of a Manipuri news portal were arrested on sedition and terror-related charges under the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act over the publication of an article. This is not the first time. Under the Biren Singh rule, the state has a history of targeting journalists and critics of the government under disproportionately harsh laws. In 2019, journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem spent close to four months in jail for his video allegedly critical of the government. During Covid-19, the government also came down on people  who criticised the government’s handling of the pandemic.      In tragic news from Meghalaya, six miners died in a coal-mining related incident in East Jaintia Hills district, confirming once again the state’s worst-kept secret: that rat-hole coal extraction continues unabated despite a court order proscribing it.   In 2018, 15 miners were buried alive inside a mine, most of their bodies never to be found again. There was much outrage at the time, and the state promised to be more vigilant — but the latest accident proves nothing really has changed.      Finally,   Read how Tripura CM Biplab Deb took to social media to share a picture of himself in the traditional garment ‘risa’, and asked others to do the same. But what is the Risa and why is it important? Read here.   Until next week, Tora Agarwala

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On statehood day, CM Biplab Deb vows to turn Tripura into a model state   Assam: 1,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses found frozen, authorities launch probe   Militant groups call for Republic-Day boycott in Manipur, security stepped up   Assam elections to be held keeping Bihu, CBSE exam dates in mind, says CEC

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