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.
