The ABVP on Saturday called for observing ‘Bengali Language Day’ in West Bengal on September 20, in memory of two youth killed in firing during a protest over the recruitment of Sanskrit and Urdu teachers in a school, instead of those for Bengali, at Darivit in 2018.
The RSS's student wing also demanded a "speedy and impartial" investigation by the state's BJP government and legal action against those responsible for the deaths of the two.
Background to the Darivit protest
Tapas Barman, a college student, and Rajesh Sarkar, an ITI student, were killed in violence during the protest on September 19, 2018, when the TMC was in power. Both were students of Darivit High School and joined the protest. Locals had claimed that the institute required teachers for mathematics, science and Bengali.
The Calcutta High Court on May 10, 2023, ordered an NIA investigation into the death of the two youths in a case of alleged firing and bombing during the protest.
ABVP seeks official recognition
"Bengali is not merely a medium of communication but is deeply connected with the history, culture and heritage of Bengal," ABVP central executive committee member Shubhabrata Adhikari said in a press conference here.
He said the ABVP would seek official recognition for September 20 as Bengali Language Day and organise programmes aimed at creating awareness among students about Bengali language, literature, culture and heritage.
From September 21, the organisation will hold Bengali Language Day-related programmes for a week at various college and university campuses across the state, Adhikari said.
The ABVP leader stated that the initiative was aimed at promoting respect for the language.
ABVP announces medical and dental conclave
The organisation also announced that its ninth All India Medical and Dental Students Conclave will be held at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata on October 9 and 10, and more than 500 students from across the country are expected to participate.
Discussions at the two-day conclave will focus on medical education, the healthcare system and issues concerning medical and dental students, ABVP South Bengal unit secretary Nilkantha Bhattacharya said in the press conference.