Local Residents, Organizations Oppose Sachal as Protest Venue

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Local residents and several organizations have expressed vehement opposition to the fixing of an area at Sachal in the city for organizing protest programmes. It may be recalled that the Guwahati High Court had recently allowed for the shifting of the protest venue from Dighalipukhuri in the heart of the city to a field close to the All Assam Tennis Association complex at Sachal near Six Mile as per the suggestion made by the government authorities.

Meanwhile, the residents of the area have expressed vehement opposition to the new venue at Sachal as the area is mainly residential in nature. They are of the view that holding of protest programmes next door could only be highly disturbing to the existing peace in the residential area.

On the other hand, several organizations have expressed dissatisfaction over the fixing of the protest venue at Sachal as the area is remotely located and nobody would even know or hear about a protest programme when organized in that area. They are of the view that any protest programme held in the area would remain totally away from the general public view as well as that of the authorities. Some have also opined that the location has been deliberately selected by the government authorities so that all protest programmes remain unknown to the general public. As a result, the protest programmes would turn out to be totally futile, while the government authorities will be in a position to conveniently turn a deaf ear to all protests.