Vested groups trying to retard pace of development: Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday said some vested interest groups were trying to destabilize the pace of development unleashed by his government and spreading misinformation about its commitment towards the people of the State.

“I am a son of the soil and the people of the State entrusted me with the responsibility to lead Assam towards progress. I am committed to safeguard the interests of the people and no one should try to misguide people on my intent’, Sonowal asserted while addressing a mammoth gathering during celebration of Shramik Kalyan Divas at Rangapara in Sonitpur district on Friday.

The Shramik Kalyan Divas has been celebrated in recognition to the remarkable services of notable tea community leader and social worker Santosh Kumar Topno on his birth anniversary since 2017.

Sonowal said he is fully committed to safeguard the interest of the people of the State. He asserted that he will leave no stone unturned to safeguard the culture, language, literature and rights of the Assamese people over their land.

Stating that the State Government has been extending sincere service in the preparation of an error free NRC to free Assam from illegal foreigners, Sonowal said that in the aftermath of publication of the complete draft of NRC, several organizations raised doubts of inclusion of names of illegal foreigners in the draft. “Now the Supreme Court has set a deadline for filing claims and objections. Therefore the organizations which raised their concerns must come forth and file objections. Similarly all genuine Indian whose names were not included in the complete draft NRC should file their claims,” the CM said, adding that the response to the claims & objection exercise has so far been very dissatisfactory.

Terming the tea workers as one of the strongest pillars for leveraging growth of a nation, Sonowal came down heavily on the neglect and apathy of the previous State Governments in upholding the interest of the workers and tea garden people. He said that Assam is known in the world because of Assam Tea. But the people who actually produce the Assam Tea remained neglected for last seven decades of India’s independence.

Sonowal also highlighted the great contributions of tea community leader Santosh Kumar Topno and Simon Singh Horo and called upon the people to follow their footsteps to develop a more cohesive, harmonious and vibrant Assam.

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