Letters to The Editor

The pride of Assam, AASU has lost its glory. Past activities have shown that it has become political in nature. This fall from grace started when Samujjal Bhattacharya took over the reins. Earlier the organization received voluntary donation from the public but Bhattacharya started the culture of forceful extortion. The audit report of the Union was never made public and this was done purposefully to hide the anomalies. Two years back one audio clip went viral in social media where Bhattacharya was demanding a substantial amount from an official of the NHPC. This is just the tip of iceberg as many traders and business establishments pay huge sum of money to the top leaders as local tax. Such reports go unreported as the victims shut their mouths out of fear. Now the same path is followed by the lower rung leaders who never hesitate to demand monetary favour. The forceful extortion by groups like AASU is one of the reasons for price hike in essential commodities. Interestingly, the same team of Bhattacharya will criticize the government, CII and others for price hike.

The reason why nearing 60 years leader like him, Dipanko Kumar Nath (above 45 years) are refusing to leave the AASU is that with responsibility they are running a parallel government. Their weapons are bandhs, dharnas, black flags, etc. The leaders who claim to be unemployed or students lead a lavish lifestyle with expensive cars and apartments. The drama enacted by the grand old man of the AASU in Tinsukia conference was all well orchestrated play.

Tanveer Mullah Haq,

Nalbari.

Fresh guidelines

The State government has issued fresh COVID-19 guidelines in view of the forthcoming New Year celebrations. It will remain in force till January 10 next year. The new guidelines prohibit gathering of not more than 50 persons in closed places. It is a good step taken by the State government.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali

Change in leadership

The INC is crumbling like pack of cards. Once the Northeast was their fort but now they are searching for land to stand. The AICC requires change in leadership as Ripun Bora is completely a failure. His words and actions don't give any assurance to the voters. In the BTR polls, their trusted and loyal minority votes got transferred to the BPF but the president is yet to realize his failure. In the national level Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are drowning the Congress ship. The good and popular leaders are sidelined. In Assam, old ones like Rakibul Hussain, Ripun Bora, Pradyut Bordoloi, Rekibuddin Ahmed and others are still dominating the party and giving no chance to young leaders. Too secure the Muslim majority seats, Ripun Bora is aligning with AIUDF. Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF is the biggest threat to existence of original inhabitants. Their main concern is to safeguard the interests of Bangladesh infiltrated Muslims.

A strong Congress is required in Assam. Democracy requires strong Opposition. For Congress to emerge as an alternative it has to get rid of some of the old and incompetent leaders. The motto should be to work for original inhabitants and get rid of appeasement policy of the immigrant Muslims as already they have flooded the State with these infiltrators.

Chotu Nath Boro,

Barpeta.

Children's Day should be on December 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27.12.2020 in his last 'Maan Ki Baat' of the year 2020 remembered brave sons of Guru Govind Singhji namely Zoravar Singh and Fateh Singh who preferred being martyred on 26.12.1704 within the wall built for the purpose rather than adopting Islam at orders of cruel Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Nehru-Gandhi Congress in its long regime after independence made all efforts to wash out memories of such unforgettable ones by glorifying members of Nehru-Gandhi family only. Present BJP government should act boldly to re-write school textbooks and history books to make new generation aware about such brave children and other martyrs like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and others who were deliberately ignored by the Congress dynastically ruled by Nehru-Gandhi family.

Institutions named after members of Nehru-Gandhi family should be reviewed to be named after forgotten brave sons of pre-independence India. A bold beginning should be made by celebrating Children's Day on every December 26 in memory of brave Zoravar Singh and Fathe Singh rather than on November 14 as birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru. It is even more regretful that Nehru-Gandhi Congress instead glorified cruel Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb by naming a prominent road in New Delhi and a Boeing 747 after him.

Too much glorification continued to be given to MK Gandhi even by present the BJP government in preference to deserving others like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is also not good. Monopoly of photo of MK Gandhi should be done away by photos of various pre-independence martyrs on currency notes of different denominations. Empty canopy at India Gate (New Delhi) should have a statue of trio Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru who were reportedly seen as terrorists rather than freedom fighters by the then Congress leaders denying them legal help against death sentence.

Madhu Agrawal,

Delhi .

Dharna at Dispur Last Gate

Dharnas by various ethnic groups, organizations and associations of the State at Dispur Last Gate as and when the State Assembly is in session gives an impression that the State government has not been able to fulfill their demands. This is not the case with the present dispensation at Dispur alone. In fact, it is a perennial scene during every Assembly session in the State. Be that as it may, it is a pointer to the fact that the successive governments at Dispur have not been able to meet the demands, genuine or otherwise, that keep coming from various groups.

Topo Singha,

Barbari, Guwahati.