Rumi affect: Dispur tightens car entry

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 23: After the revelation of a ruling party MLA allegedly issuing Assembly car passes to the kingpin of a notorious car-lifting gang,  the State government has made it clear that if any such controversy arises over car passes involving persons known to any MLA or minister, he or she will be held responsible.      

On this issue, an all-party review meeting was held in presence of Assembly Speaker Prab Kumar Gogoi on Thursday.

All car passes already issued have been ordered cancelled and new passes will be issued from next month after strict inspection, the all-party meeting decided.

The existing car passes will automatically stand cancelled and the new passes will be issued from the 1st of May, it was decided.

According to the new guidelines, ministers, parliamentary secretaries and legislators will be entitled to recommend five general car passes for their family members, relatives and others.

This is apart from the two VIP passes and government allotted vehicles, to which they are entitled.

Chief secretary, additiol chief secretaries, principal secretaries, commissioners and secretaries, principal secretaries, principal accounts general and accounts general, and directors of state government departments will be given one VIP car pass each.

Members of Parliament, former-MPs, former legislators and the Guwahati mayor will also be entitled to one VIP pass each.

“From May 1, vehicle registration certificate and driving license of the driver will also have to be submitted along with the application seeking Assembly car passes. These were not followed earlier,” a source said.

The ongoing police investigation has revealed that Borkhola MLA Rumi th had recommended Assembly entry passes thrice for a car belonging to notorious car-lifter Anil Chauhan between 2013-15.

Rumi th and her estranged husband Jacky Zakir were arrested earlier this month for their alleged nexus with Chauhan. Remanded to judicial custody, th is presently lodged in Guwahati Central Jail.