Garga Chatterjee Apologizes to the People of Assam

Kolkata based political commentator Dr. Garga Chatterjee has apologized to the people of Assam over his controversial remark describing Ahom kingdom founder Chaolung Sukapha as a "Chinese invader". Posting a video on social media, Chatterjee informed that he has written to Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal expressing regret over his remarks and promised not to indulge in such acts in the future.

"From the core of my heart, I unconditionally apologize to all the people of Assam including the Tai Ahom community through honourable chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal for any previous social media post by me that may have unintentionally hurt anyone's sentiment," Chatterjee said.

Chatterjee, head of "Bangla Pokkho", a Bengali nationalist organization said, "I expressed deepest regards and respect for Swargadeo Sukapha's exemplary role as architect of Bor Ahom, forging greater Assamese identity and the rich legacy of his dynasty and civilization that is part and parcel of our diverse and great Indian civilization."

Chatterjee's apology comes two months after Assam CM Sonowal directed the state police to arrest him for his defamatory remarks about Sukapha which could "lead to rift between different communities" in an ethnically diverse state like Assam.

On June 17, the Associate Professor at Kolkata's Indian Statistical Institute had tweeted, "Why does @sarbanandsonwal regularly celebrate a Chinese invader and his invading army? Why does banned separatist group ULFA also celebrate the Chinese invader? Do real Indians know that Indian tax money is being used by BJP in Assam to put up statues of a Chinese invader?"

The remarks led to widespread outrage on social media among the Assamese community. Multiple FIR's were filed against Chatterjee across districts in Assam. Subsequently a team of Assam police landed in Kolkata to apprehend him but went back unsuccessful. The Assam police accused their Kolkata police counterparts of non-cooperation. Following which a Guwahati Court issued a fresh warrant against Garga Chatterjee directing the Kolkata police commissioner to arrest him.

"In future, I will never make any social media post that may hurt the sentiments of the people of Assam," Chatterjee has said in his video released on Saturday.