Remove Rakibul, zrul from list of ministers: KSKUP

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, January 19: The Krishak Sramik Kalyan Unyan Parishad (KSKUP) has demanded of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Anjan Dutta to remove ‘corrupt’ ministers Rakibul Hussain and zrul Islam from the new list of ministers of the state.

Talking to newsmen in the city today, KSKUP president Pradip Kalita said: “Corruption under Rakibul Hussain as the state P&RD and Forest and Environment ministers has been rampant. In gaon district, he has been getting commissions from around 50 central schemes like MGNERGA, DDP, TFC, IBS etc.”

Kalita further said: “What’s happening in the Forest and Environment Department in the state is an open secret. Under Rakibul as the state Forest Minister, rhino killing has been rampant. Illegally–run sand syndicates have also sprung up everywhere in the state. It is unfortute that such a corrupt minister is getting the blessings of the party leaders in his inclusion in the list of ministers.”

Kalita said that if Gogoi and Dutta could drop ‘corrupt’ Hussain and Islam from the ministry, the Chief Minister and the APCC chief might be taken into confidence by the people of the state.

Recently Hussain was prompt enough to go for a self–evaluation and claimed himself to be a ‘successful minister’, stunning all those who continue to peer at him.   

The Durniti Birodhi Mab Adhikar Suraksha Mancha (DBMASM) was on record criticizing the forest minister claimed for his claim in a local TV channel that he was a successful forest minister. “The Wildlife Protection Act was ected in 1972. It was amended in 2009 so as to provide arms to forest guards. However, rhino killings could not be stopped. In such a backdrop, how come the minister claim himself to be a successful forest minister?” the Mancha had said, and added that the arguments shown by the minister to support his tall claim were hollow.

The Mancha had further said: “Illegal syndicates collecting cash from sand–laden trucks could not be stopped in the state. In areas like Chhaygaon, Kukurmara etc., in South Kamrup such syndicates have been doing a roaring business. Each truck loaded with sand has to pay Rs 200 to the gates, and that leads to high prices of sand in the  market. What’s surprising is: when such cases are raised, the minister gives prompt reply that if the public are aware of such activities going on around them as to why they don’t move the court against such practices.”

The Mancha asked ‘if the minister doesn’t get commissions from such syndicates, what prevents him from taking stern action against them and dismantle the illegally–run check–gates?’

The Mancha had also said: “In the Chandrapur area, there are allegations of illegal collection of sand from the Brahmaputra. Despite repeated allegations, the practice goes on continuously. Such activities continue to rob the state exchequer of crores of revenues every year. In such a backdrop, on what ground, the minister rates himself as a successful minister?”