Assam Govt Should Give Financial Aid to Martyrs' Families instead of 'Bribing' Artists: Actress Barsha Rani Bishaya

Guwahati, December 18, 2019:

Barsha Rani Bishaya, a prominent actress from Assam, has demanded the Government of Assam to dole out ex-gratia to family members of the martyrs of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act movement in Assam.

Speaking to Inside Northeast, Bishaya stated that instead of giving a 'one-time pension' to artists of the State, the Government should attempt to heal

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Casting suspicion over the Government's decision of giving pensions to artistes at a time when stir against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is at its peak, Barsha said, "It is the right of every artist to avail benefits from their Government. However, the sorrow of artists aggrieved at the Centre's passage of the C(A)B has been mocked with this announcement. At a time when the entire State is on the boil over the C(A)A, it is hardly an apt time to announce something like this."

Stating that this move reeks of suspicion and is "insensitive", Barsha further explained, "If my mother is in the ICU, I will never go to America. This is something similar to that.."

The 'Ratnakar' star further announced that the artists of the State shall not be enticed by the "lollipop" of this pension. "If all the artists want to receive the pension, I will not speak against it. However, we would like the Government to give the financial aid to the families of those who were martyred, and the people who were injured during the protests...many are still hospitalized."

Speaking on the lines of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, that has created a situation of unrest across the nation, Barsha said "We will have to win this battle at any cost. Not only artistes, but even the elderly have come out onto the streets -- this Act will be scrapped, no doubt -- however, the lives that were lost during this struggle will never come back. That is the saddest part."

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