CPI M to go on stir against Assam government

The state committee of CPI-M on Thursday announced a month-long agitation from June 15 against the ruling Congress. The party said that Congress-led government in Assam has failed to curb spiralling prices and maintain law and order. The decision to launch the agitation comes a couple of days after CPI-M's state committee meeting in Guwahati, which was also attended by Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar and party politburo member S R Pillai.

CPI-M state secretary and former MLA Uddhab Barman on Thursday accused the Tarun Gogoi government of harassing people in the pretext of preparing photo electoral rolls and distributing ration cards. "The brunt of soaring prices of essential commodities, anomalies in public distribution system, rampant corruption, poverty and unemployment in rural areas, demand for adequate rehabilitation package for flood and erosion victims and deteriorating law and order situation are the key reasons we decided to launch a campaign," said Barman.

Barman said the Assam government's plans to carry out second-generation reforms in the power sector, as announced by state power minister Pradyut Bordoloi, is aimed at privatizing the power sector. "After consensus was met on deporting all illegal migrants who have sneaked into Indian territory since March 24, 1971, the CPI-M is surprised that Tarun Gogoi as is advocating citizenship for all such migrants. This is a tactic to divide the people of Assam," the CPI-M state secretary said.

He also criticized the BJP, saying the saffron party is trying to give communal colours to the influx issue. "The state government continues to show apathy to flood and erosion victims at Mandia in Barpeta district even as their protest continues after 22 days," the CPI-M state secretary added. Barman said the recent killing of Gadapani Pathak, superintending engineer of agriculture department, not only reveals the deteriorating law and order scenario in the state, but has also brought to light rampant corruption in government departments once again.