Assam: We are bringing about more transparency to check corruption, says CM Himanta

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a movement for transparency in governance is currently underway in the state. If the government is indulging in corruption, such a movement would not have been launched, he opined.

The CM stated this in the Assembly today, in response to the allegations by the opposition on syndicates in supari, coal, etc., operating in the state. He pointed out that relevant data proved the present government has been taking steps on corruption, as compared to the inaction during the rule of the Congress government. “We want reforms in the system, as corruption cannot be rooted out if there are no measures on transparency taken in this direction. We have done a lot towards stamping out corruption, but there are more steps to be taken. To bring about transparency, the people are submitting complaints against corrupt officials, something that never happened during the Congress government’s time. It is due to this transparency that we could appoint around 1.5 lakh youths without a single complaint being made,” the CM said.

“From 2021 to the present, we have arrested 24 Class I officers, 80 Class II officers, and many from Grades III and IV. A total of 349 officials have been arrested, and an amount of Rs 12 crore was seized from their premises. We have not only arrested the officials but also submitted charge sheets against them. If we compare this with the action taken by the Congress government from 2011 to 2015, cases were filed against only 25 public servants,” he further said.

Regarding the supari syndicate, the CM said, “Between 2010 and 2016, not a single truck carrying supari was seized nor any case filed. After 2021, around 700 people were arrested, 724 cases were filed and around 6,000 tonnes of supari were seized. In order to ensure that supari from the state is not transported out of the state, we have signed MoUs to set up two supari-related industries in the state.”

On the subject of coal syndicates, the CM said that between 2010 and 2015, not one person connected with coal syndicates was arrested. But, during the BJP regime, 228 persons have been arrested and 3.3 lakh MT of coal seized. “The government was not aware of rat-hole mining taking place in Umrangso, which only came to light after the recent rat-hole mine disaster. We have initiated a judicial inquiry, and we will take action against those responsible, as they have to be held accountable for the tragic incident,” he stressed.

The CM continued his counterattack by saying, “Now the Congress is levelling allegations about cow syndicates operating in the state, but during their time, only 77 persons were arrested. But, during our tenure, we have arrested 4,300 people connected with the illegal transportation of cows. We have totally imposed a ban on illegal cow transportation.”

“If there are any allegations about syndicates, there is a Lokayukta, an Anti-Corruption Cell, courts, etc., which can be moved in the case of specific complaints. There is no use in simply levelling allegations without any evidence,” he also said.

“During the time of the Congress, rhino poaching was on the rise, and the government failed to control it. Maybe there was no political will to stop rhino killings. It is also possible that a part of the proceeds from the sale of rhino horns flowed into Congress party coffers. If I had been given charge of the Forest department at that time, I would have stopped the killing of rhinos,” the CM also said.

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