Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) today urged the people of northeast region to defy the call of militants' prohibiting people from celebrating the forthcoming Independence Day on August 15.
Every patriotic Indian should observe both Independence Day and Republic Day to pay their tributes to the martyrs of India's freedom movement for their supreme sacrifices, JFA President Rupam Baruah and General Secretary Nava Thakuria said in a statement issued here.
The JFA also appealed to all journalists' bodies of the region, including the local press clubs, to come forward to pay their homage to all martyrs of the freedom struggle and hoist the National flag in their offices, colonies and localities on Independence Day.
Five militant outfits of North East, including the ULFA(Independent), have urged the people not to participate in the Independence Day functions as a 'mark of protest' against the government.
They also gave a call for a general strike starting from the midnight of August 14 till the evening of August 15 and urged people to boycott the celebrations.
"The National flag does not belong to the government machinery alone, rather it is a priceless property of the billions of devoted Indians'', the release added.
Many martyrs of Assam including Kanaklata Barua, Mukunda Kakoti, Kushal Konwar, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Nidhanu Rajbangshi, Kamala Miri, Lerela Boro, Madan-Rauta, Hemoram Patar, Gunabhi Bordoloi and others had laid down their lives for the honour of the Tricolour, the release added.
