Letters to the Editor

Panchayat Dilemma

As reported by your esteemed daily a couple of days ago, the Assam Election Commission is "in a dilemma" because despite getting the required money from the State government to conduct panchayat polls in the State, which are due, DCs and SPs have expressed their ibility to conduct the polls because the manpower needed for the purpose is engaged in the NRC update work, which must be completed before June 30 as directed by the Supreme Court that is monitoring the whole exercise.

The question now is whether the polls will be conducted in a free and fair manner, given the manpower deficit. This is really a dilemma.

What is disturbing is that the dilemma has hit the election commission at a time when Assam needs a very strong self-governce system. The idea of panchayats is an idea of democracy. Without these elected local bodies, democracy cannot take strong roots. It will be meaningless in the absence of people's participation at the grassroots level.

We hope some solution will be worked out and we shall have a free and fair, hassle-free panchayat election with honest and dedicated people being elected, who have the will to serve the people and whose main concern is rural development.

Deepak Gogoi,

Sivasagar.

Apology Spree

The ever-vociferous and controversial person, Arvind Kejriwal, is in an apology-seeking mood at present. It is all due to his mindless and baseless allegations which he levelled on his political opponents without having any facts and figures. Within a week he has sought apology from SAD leader Bikram Singh Manjithia and Union cabinet minister Nitin Gadkari. The list  didn’t end there as the Delhi Chief Minister again sought unconditiol apology from senior leaders Arun  Jaitley and Kapil Sibal. Arvind Kejriwal is eating humble pie due to his old habit of speaking lies. The  amount of compensation AAP has to spend on law courts must have made leaders of this party think that Kejriwal is liability to the party. It is a lesson for Akhil Gogoi too as the said gentleman has the habit of levelling baseless and mindless allegations without any substance against his political and persol foes.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Ambari, Guwahati.

Land of Syndicates

Is Assam a land of syndicates? A few days ago, newspapers in the State, including yours, reported stories of an illegal coal syndicate operating in the State. I think two trucks were stopped in the Beltola area of Guwahati for overloading and it was suspected that they were part of the syndicate. Some transport officials were also summoned by the CID in Guwahati for interrogation.

It was then turn for two more syndicates to come to the picture! First is the alleged supari syndicate. Reports inform us that the supari bulk origiting in Myanmar is routed to Assam via Manipur, and in Manipur documents are prepared. The Act Implementation Committee of the Assam Legislative Assembly called a meeting of the DCs and SPs of Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts on Monday to discuss the case. The committee has expressed serious concern over the matter, which is causing huge revenue loss as alleged.

The other syndicate is the alleged sand syndicate. As reported, the Assembly committee has decided to visit the different sand mahals of the State to take stock of the situation.

Where are we heading to?

Mas Bora,

Beltola, Guwahati.