Letters to the Editor: Assembly is not a Battlefield

Assembly is not a battlefield

The Assembly stands as a beacon of hope and trust for thousands of people. Often regarded as a holy institution, it represents the aspirations, dreams, and challenges of the state. Yet, today, the sanctity of this revered house appears to be diminishing. Disturbing incidents have cast a shadow over the Assembly’s dignity, with a recent escalation in violence highlighting the severity of the situation.

In a particularly ironic and tragic twist, opposition member Nurul Huda attacked the Deputy Speaker, Numal Momin, and injured him during a protest seeking justice for an earlier incident involving Rupjyoti Kurmi chasing Sherman Ali to attack. Rather than securing justice, the protest culminated in further violence.

It is critical for legislators to remember that they are not just individuals within the House but representatives of thousands of people who have placed their trust in them. Their actions, words, and decisions impact lives across the state. The continuous exit of the opposition from Assembly sessions will only serve to harm the people of Assam, leaving their voices unheard in the process.

There is a clear need for change in behaviour and approach. Just as administrative officers undergo rigorous training to prepare for their responsibilities, similar training should be considered for elected representatives. This would not only instil a deeper understanding of their roles but also foster a sense of responsibility and decorum, ensuring that the Assembly remains a house of wisdom, debate, and progress, rather than a theatre for conflict.

Nilim Kashyap Barthakur,

Guwahati

Chaos in the Assembly

The news article, 'Chaos ensues in House over 'attack' on deputy speaker, published in your esteemed daily on March 25, has shocked every conscious citizen of the state. The chaos due to a clash between ruling and opposition MLAs over the 'allegation of attempt to assault' has not only forced the hon'ble speaker to adjourn the House to restore order, but also when the AUDF MLAs brought with them bamboo fences to symbolically protect themselves from the ruling party's attacks, which never happened before, has surprised everyone who believes in the essence of the democratic institutions and the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the House. Now, a question arises about the political responsibility of governance which is paramount in shaping Assam's future. If such unprecedented situations are allowed to continue in the Assembly, when will our people's representatives actively participate in debates and discussions about the economic self-sufficiency of Assamese youth, which is the crucial responsibility of every member of the House? Today, the situation in the state is such that there is no earning in most of the small and medium businesses. The shop owners open the shops and wait for the customers right from morning, but, sadly, they return home with little earnings in the evening, with which they cannot afford the family. When will the economic issues of these sections of people be discussed in the Assembly, as every Assamese has a duty to remain informed and hold leaders accountable on issues of economic self-reliance? The CM's request that when an MLA is speaking in the House, he or she should not be interrupted; tolerance, mutual respect and an inclusive approach should exist between all MLAs; must be respectfully accepted by members of the House without any objections. The need is to check the growing disillusionment among people regarding governance, which is a shared responsibility, and only through collective action and cooperation of both ruling and opposition MLAs can the people of Assam, especially the state's youth, ensure that their socio-economic interests are safeguarded. Supporting local businesses is another responsibility of the government so that every Assamese homeland continues to thrive undisturbed not only for today but for generations to come. Let us start prioritising issues of common people's welfare in the House over the ruling and opposition attacks and counter-attacks, which is a futile exercise and waste of valuable time, energy and public money.

Iqbal Saikia,

Guwahati.

Save water, save lives

On March 22, the world marked the annual World Water Day commemoration. This day was meant to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater. Unfortunately, people’s behaviour towards water consumption is reckless. They waste water carelessly without any concern that there could be a scarcity of water in the future.

Now, the consequences of this wastage of water are becoming increasingly evident as India has become one of the world’s most water-scarce countries. The government must come up with more efficient water-management systems and encourage people to use water more judiciously, as water is precious and can save lives.

Jubel D'Cruz,

(jubeldcruz@yahoo.com)