CM Sarbananda Sonowal Promises Clean and Transparent Panchayat Raj

Special Correspondent

Silchar: Buoyed by the wide support to BJP in Brahmaputra Valley notwithstanding the opposition challenge of Congress, AIUDF and its own ally, AGP, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during his electioneering in Barak on Wednesday was witness to the level of enthusiasm among the people at his rally at Pailapool DSA ground, 30 km from here.

He exuded confidence when he said, “In the impressive assembly of men, women and youths of different communities, his party would play a dominant role in Panchayat elections and in forming zila parishads, anchalik parishads and gaon panchayats for offering the people ‘panchayat raj free from corruptions’ and ensuring better and improved standard of life”.

Chief Minister chose Lakhipur sub division, a strong Congress bastion, with the objective of penetrating the area of influence of his party. Significantly, of the 7 constituencies of Cachar, Lakhipur alone is under Congress domain. For consecutive seven terms, late minister Dinesh Prasad Goala was elected MLA from this constituency. Presently, his son Rajdeep Goala is holding the reign of power. Can the Chief Minister demolish the Congress dominance? Like a Machiavellian, Sarbananda Sonowal hit at the Congress raj of 70 years to expose all prevailing corruptions which took away from the people the benefits of panchayat system.

There was corruption in all fields and in the implementation of schemes and projects. The beneficiaries were deprived and the coffers of politicians of Congress were being filled. They took pleasure in blackmailing people with blankets, yarns and mosquito nets. “Everyone”, the Chief Minister said, “knew how unaccounted anomalies and irregularities took place in MNREGA. The tale of corruption is endless”. He took the occasion to warn his own party men of being sent to jail if found involved in corruption. Both the Centre and the state are committed to provide clean administration, he added.

Sarbananda Sonowal played to the gallery by declaring a grant of Rs.108 crore for the development of the sub division and Rs.10 crore for Lakhipur stadium. The days of darkness in rural belts would be a thing of the past with the Centre and the state joining together to fund all the 26000 villages of Assam through direct funding, eliminating the middle men, a bane of Congress raj. Lakhipur sub division being a tea belt, the Chief Minister spoke about the ushering in of mobile medical units in all the tea gardens of the area as well as the state as a whole. Modernization of 1500 tea gardens including those of the sub division would be taken up. Moreover, Rs.2000 per month is planned for pregnant women of the tea tribe and village dwellers. Panchayat raj would be absolutely for the benefit of people.

Being aware of the difficulties of people of interior areas in respect of connectivity, Sarbananda Sonowal revealed Rs.800 crore would go for building roads and bridges of the state. He at the same time spoke of the various centrally sponsored schemes like Ujjawala, Ayushman Bharat, Dhan Jan Yojana, PMAY, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and the state sponsored Atal Amrit Abhijan which are immensely benefitting the common people. He repeated to say, “There would be no discrimination in development of both the valleys”.

The Chief Minister did not miss to assure people, “Not to worry about NRC. Submit documents that one possesses. To maintain peace and security is our job.” He cautioned not to be misled by the rumour-mongering of Congress and AIUDF on the sensitive issue. He made the significant observation, “No terrorist or communal force would be allowed to raise its ugly head in the state”. Others who addressed the meeting included Cachar BJP president Kaushik Rai, Kabindra Purkayastha, former minister, BJP Mahila Morcha president, Bijuli Kalita Medhi, all the six MLAs of the district.

Also Read: CM Sarbananda Sonowal discusses law-and-order situation in State