GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal presented Bir Chilarai Award to veteran athlete and Arjuna awardee Bhogeswar Baruah during the celebration of Bir Chilarai Divas at ITI playground in Bongaigaon on Sunday. The award carries a citation, sarai, anga bastra and a cheque of Rs. 3 lakh, stated a press release. Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Sonowal paying deep tributes to the legendary warrior Chilarai, said, “In this age of competition, we should strive to follow the ideals and examples of Bir Chilarai to build the Assam of our dreams.” He also said, “Our Government is the government for the people and by the people. Our Government remains committed to realise the aspirations of the indigenous people of Assam.” Chief Minister Sonowal said that for Assam to scale greater heights all the people will have to work hard. People belonging to Koch Rajbongshi community are known for their dedication and diligence and asked them to lend their hands as they have been doing to make Assam prosperous in all fields. He also said that since taking over the charge the present State government gave one lakh indigenous people land pattas and reiterated that his government has been consistently working to strengthen the adage Amar Asom, Amar Maati, Amar Adhikar. He also reiterated that the State Government always remains committed to empower people from the Koch Rajbongshi community along with others. The formation of Kamatapur Autonomous Council is the testimony of the governments commitment to fulfil the aims and aspirations of the people belonging to Koch Rajbongshi community. He also said that his government is committed to safeguard the interests of all ethnic groups of the state and the interests of all the ethnic groups form the priorities of the government. Considering the demands of Food and Civil Supply Minister Phani Bhushan Choudhury and Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma, Sonowal said that government will positively take steps for setting up Gauhati University campus at Bongaigaon. Chief Minister Sonowal also reiterated on unity and harmony and urged upon everybody to lend their hands towards development of the state based on harmonious coexistence among different people. Chief Minister Sonowal also released a souvenir titled Sangramsingha on the occasion. Food and Civil Supply Minister Phani Bhushan Choudhury, Tourism Minister Chandan Kumar Brahma and Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley also spoke on the occasion. The programme organized by Cultural Affairs Department in association with Bongaigaon District Administration and different groups of Koch Rajbongshi was attended among others by MLAs Ashok Kumar Singhi, Ashwani Roy Sarkar, Ananth Mallu, representatives of Koch Rajbongshi organisations and host of other dignitaries. Also Read: Sarbananda Sonowal announces Rs 10 crore to corpus fund of Srimanta Sankardev Sangha Also Watch: Assam Police destroyed Opium poppy plantation in South Salmara once again

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