
Assam police station, where tricolour was raised in 1942, to be developed as tourist destination
Freedom fighters in Sootea acted early and hoisted the tricolour at the police station on this day during the Quit India Movement in 1942, paying heed to the call given to hoist the flag on all police stations on September 20, he said.
"It was a pivotal moment in India's history. The hoisting of the flag also highlighted how smaller towns like Sootea played courageous and important roles in the freedom movement," he said.
Sootea Divas, as the day is observed, is not just regional history, it is a reminder that collective courage and silent resolve can challenge years-long oppression, he said.
"Celebrating the event enriches our shared heritage and inspires the new generation to honour our heroes who strived for our Independence. The nation will always remember and cherish their sacrifices," he added.
Sarma said his government will finance and provide other support for making a film on the history of the Sootea police station.
He said the 1942 event in Sootea was well-documented by eminent historians like Heramba Kumar Borpujari, Surya Kumar Bhuyan and Amalendu Guha.
"Moreover, the incident was also mentioned in the district gazette, the National Archives and other documents," he said.
Sarma said that in the last few years, the state government has taken several steps for the all-around development of Sootea.
He said that his government is committed to taking the state forward on all fronts, and strengthening it based on the "indomitable courage and self-confidence" of the people
He also announced a ₹2-crore complex at the open bihu field in Sootea.
Earlier in the day, Sarma inaugurated two girls' hostels at Tyagbir Hem Baruah College in Jamugurihat.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
21 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
'Laundromat for Russia': Donald Trump aide targets India amid US tariff threats
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has levelled fresh charges against India over its purchase of oil from Russia, alleging the country is a 'laundromat for the Kremlin'. Navarro's attack comes days after he termed India the "Maharaja of tariffs" as he backed US President Donald Trump's doubling of duties on Indian goods entering the country. Peter Navarro, White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, speaks to members of the media outside the White House.(Bloomberg) In a media interaction, Navarro asserted that India's oil purchase from Russia was virtually close to nothing before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "The argument now, when this percentage has gone up to 30-35%, that somehow they need Russian oil, is nonsense...," the Trump aide could be heard saying in a clip shared by C-Span. "India doesn't appear to want to recognise its role in the bloodshed... It's cosying up to Xi Jinping (Chinese President). They (India) don't need the (Russian) oil," he said. Backing the same argument, Navarro later said that India's oil trade with Russia is "a refining profiteering scheme. It's a laundromat for the Kremlin." However, the White House official further added: 'I love India. Modi is a great leader, but please, India, look at your role in the global economy. What you're doing right now is not creating peace. It's perpetuating the war.' Navarro's remarks come days ahead of Trump's 50% tariff deadline for India. Last month, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Indian imports, which he later threatened to double to 50%. While one half of these duties came into force earlier this month, the remaining would take effect on August 27. "In India, 25% tariffs were put in place because they cheat us on trade. Then 25% because of the Russian oil... They have higher tariffs, Maharaja tariffs...," Navarro said, adding that there's a massive trade deficit between India and the US which hurts American businesses. Navarro said that India pays the money it gets from doing business with the US, to Russia, for buying their oil, "which then is processed by refiners, and they make a bunch of money there, but then the Russians use the money to build more arms and kill Ukrainians." The White House official then asserted how the American taxpayer money goes into providing more military aid to Ukraine, adding "that's insane, and President Trump sees that chessboard beautifully... In many ways, the road to peace runs through New Delhi...". This is not the first time the White House official has targeted India over Russian trade. In an opinion piece for the Financial Times a few days ago, Navarro termed India's oil trade with Russia 'opportunistic' and 'corrosive' to global efforts being made to isolate the Russian economy. 'As Russia continues to hammer Ukraine, helped by India's financial support, American (and European) taxpayers are then forced to spend tens of billions more to help Ukraine's defence. Meanwhile, India keeps slamming the door on American exports through high tariffs and trade barriers. More than 300,000 soldiers and civilians have been killed, while Nato's eastern flank grows more exposed and the west foots the bill for India's oil laundering,' wrote Navarro. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is visiting Moscow, lashed out at the tariffs threatened by the US and said that India was "perplexed" at the rationale behind the move. 'We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil, that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG, that is the European Union. We are not the country which has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries to the south,' he said. Trade ties between India and the US have been seeing some tensions ever since Donald Trump's tariff tirade last month. While it has targeted India time and again for its oil trade with Russia, it has not imposed any sanctions on China yet.


The Hindu
21 minutes ago
- The Hindu
‘Maharaj' in tariffs: Trump's Trade Adviser Navarro criticises India over Russian oil
India is a 'Maharaj' in tariffs and it is running a 'profiteering scheme' by using discounted Russian crude oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro has said, in yet another sharp criticism of New Delhi. Mr. Navarro's comments came on a day External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded to criticism of India by American officials for its energy ties with Russia and said the U.S. itself had asked New Delhi to help stabilise global energy markets by buying Russian oil. The White House Trade Adviser also talked about how India is 'cosying up to' Chinese President Xi Jinping. The relations between New Delhi and Washington are on a downturn after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50%, including 25% additional duties for India's purchase of Russian crude oil. 'Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India virtually bought no Russian oil... It was like almost one per cent of their need. The percentage has now gone up to 35%,' Mr. Navarro told reporters in the U.S. Mr. Navarro's fresh attack on India came three days after he wrote a piece in the Financial Times slamming the country for its procurement of Russian crude oil. He said the argument that India needs Russian oil to meet its energy requirements does not make any sense. 'They get cheap Russian oil and make refined products which they sell at premium prices in Europe, Africa and Asia,' he said, adding 'it is purely profiteering by the Indian refining industry.' 'What is the net impact on Americans because of our trade with India? They are Maharaj in tariff. (We have) higher non-tariff barriers, massive trade deficit etc — and that hurts American workers and American businesses,' he said. 'The money they get from us, they use it to buy Russian oil, which then is processed by their refiners,' he said. 'The Russians use the money to build arms and kill Ukrainians and American tax-payers have to provide more aid and military hardware to Ukrainians. That's insane,' he added. 'India does not want to recognise its role in the bloodshed,' he said, adding India is running a 'profiteering' scheme. Though the U.S. imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for its energy ties with Russia, it has not initiated similar actions against China, the largest buyer of Russian crude oil. Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics. Also read: India's purchase of Russian crude funding war in Ukraine, has to stop: U.S. trade adviser Navarro India turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022. Consequently, from a mere 1.7% share in total oil imports in 2019-20, Russia's share increased to 35.1% in 2024-25, and it is now the biggest oil supplier to India.


Hindustan Times
21 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
China repeats ‘bully' charge: How Beijing backed India amid 50% Trump tariff threats
In another sign of warming ties between Beijing and New Delhi, Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong has expressed solidarity with India against the Donald Trump administration's tariffs on Indian exports and likened the US to a 'bully'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xu Feihong said China will stand with India to uphold the multilateral trading system at a time when the US is using tariffs to demand 'exorbitant prices' from other countries, Hindustan Times earlier reported. 'The United States has imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on India, and it has even threatened for more. China firmly opposes this,' Xu Feihong said on Thursday during a discussion on the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin next week that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend. 'China will firmly stand with India to uphold the multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core,' Xu added. Xu's statement comes as Beijing and New Delhi take steps to recalibrate their ties against the backdrop of their strained relations with the Trump administration. The two neighbours this week agreed to explore demarcating their disputed border as Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited India on his first trip in three years. Here's how China has reacted to Trump tariffs