Gorkha festival Bhai Tika ( Bhatri Dwitya) declared Restricted Holiday in Assam Gorkhas welcome Bhai Tika (Bhatri Dwitya) as Restricted Holiday declaration by Govt. of Assam but youths demands Government Notification.

PR, KaliNews, 29th Oct 2016, Guwahati, Assam : Government of Assam has declared Bhai Tika (Bhatri Dwitya) celebrated by Gorkhas nationwide and across globe as Restricted Holiday as per the communication received from Chief Minister’s Office to the Chairman of Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC). Dr. Kashyap Prakash, Office on Special Duty to the Chief Minister, Government of Assam in a telecommunication to Shri. Harka Bahadur Chetry informed that the Government of Assam has decided to declare Bhai Tika on 1st November 2016 as Restricted Holiday to enable Gorkhas of state to celebrate the festival in their own way.

It may recalled that GACDC had submitted Bhai Tika special memorandum in Dispur to the Chief Minister through Commissioner & Secretary, Home & Political Affairs and Etc. Government of Assam who has been given the responsibility of designated officer to discuss the 8 point demand submitted by GACDC after 650 kms Marathon March followed by ‘Raithaney Gorkha Bhela’ at Khanapara in Guwahati on 9th September 2016. The GACDC delegation had high level discussion at Brahmaputra Guest House with the Governm,ent of Assam chaired by the Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal on 10th Sept in Guwahati where the GACDC had submitted a 8 point demand memorandum beginning with declaring Gorkhas of Assam as indigenous community through a Government Notification and change all any such notifications / mention in Government records the Gorkhas being inadvertently written Nepali. Bhai Tika being one major festival celebrated by the Gorkhas of state along with the greater Assamese society the GACDC had demanded it to be a state holiday followed by same demand raised by All Assam Gorkha Students Union.

Speaking to this correspondent Harka Bahadur Chetry, Chairman, GACDC said, ‘It is matter of contentment that Bhai Tika henceforth has been declared as Restricted Holiday for 2016 and is coming up with official notification through appregension surrounding Bhatri Dwitya as Restricted Holiday have been raised now and I look forward it to be a State Holiday as demanded by GACDC and AAGSU so that besides the Gorkhas the entire Assamese society can celebrate it and spread message of brotherhood and strengthen community relations thereby enabling prosperity and growth of Assam together. On behalf of people of Assam I want to thank the Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal, his cabinet, Chief Ministers’ Office and specially madam L. S. Changsen Commissioner & Secretary Home & Political Affairs, Government of Assam for her active administrative participation in making it happen and confirming it to me over telephone.

Gorkhas of Assam slept last night with a good news that they will be able celebrate Bhai Tika this year with applying for full fledged proper leave like every year and woke up to see social media flooded to see with this news. However the students and youths wants the Government to make the notification public instead of a declaration as testimony. Gorkha youth leader Nanda Kirati Dewan said, ‘Government of Assam notification vide No. GAG(A)/139/2015/81-83 dated on 16th December 2015 List of Holidays mentioned Bhatri Dwitya as Restricted Holiday. Why is the announcement now made , the demand was for State Holiday, the Honorable Chief Minister must respect the sentiments of Gorkhas and declare it State Holiday on or before Monday to stand with its political will respecting the sentiments and emotions of 30 lakhs Gorkhas of Assam.’.