Silchar: Fresh controversy has emerged over the proposed naming of a railway station as “Bhasha Shahid Station,” after a recent RTI reply revealed that no formal proposal has yet been sent by the state government to the Centre. The development has drawn sharp criticism from the Barak Democratic Front (BDF).

The RTI, filed by advocate Dharmananda Deb, received a response from the Railway Ministry stating that no official proposal has been submitted so far regarding the naming. Reacting to this, BDF Media Cell convenor Joydeep Bhattacharya termed the information “misleading.”

In a press statement, Bhattacharya said that it was widely believed until now that the Railway Ministry had already given its in-principle approval and asked the state government to forward the proposal through a gazette notification. However, the RTI response suggests that the process may not have even begun.

He questioned how the Centre could consider or decide on the matter if no formal proposal had been sent. Bhattacharya also pointed out that the current Rajya Sabha MP from Silchar had raised the issue in Parliament recently, while his late father, a former Union Minister from the Barak Valley, had also spoken on the matter earlier. He asked what basis such statements were made if no official proposal existed.

According to BDF, the RTI reply makes it clear that the first step should have been approved by the state cabinet followed by submission of a formal proposal. The organization alleged that this crucial step was overlooked.

Bhattacharya said the new information has made the issue more complicated and added that the long-standing demand of the people of Barak Valley should not be clouded by confusion. He demanded immediate clarification from local MPs.

He further alleged that successive governments in Dispur have failed to give due importance to the issue. Despite announcements and claims of action in the past, no concrete progress has been made, he said, calling it an insult to the sentiments of the people and to the language martyrs.

BDF convenor Hrishikesh Dey, in a separate press statement, stressed the need to end the confusion at the earliest. The organization has demanded that the new government take a clear decision on the matter before May 19.