Opposition leaders question Dispur's anti-Barak Valley stance

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Opposition leaders Kamalaskhya Dey Purkayastha Congress MLA, Suzam Uddin Laskar AIUDF MLA and Pradip Dutta Roy ACKHSA leader in a chorus have come down heavily on Dispur's changing stance towards Barak Valley and questioned the silence of BJP leaders on depriving jobs and employment opportunities to the youths of the three districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. The lockdown and the economic recession have adversely affected the youths in particular. According to Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Health, nearly 3.5 lakh migrant workers till now have come back to Assam from other States of the country. The number of workers returning to this valley is also not insignificant. If they do not go back to their work places, they will further add to the number of unemployed brigade.

When the need of this critical moment is to provide a share of the jobs created in the state government departments to the unemployed youths of the valley, Dispur is following anti Barak policy and has become the target of opposition. The litany of charges is that in June 110 appointments were made in the department of agriculture. None got from the valley. Under rural health mission, of the 16 posts filled up, none was from the valley. 200 physically challenged were taken in different departments. Barak drew flak as if there is no disabled of competence and ability. 300 nurses were appointed, not even a single from here.

Every year, toppers hog the limelight in high and higher secondary examinations from this valley, besides better performances by students. Most unfortunate, the Congress syndrome of discrimination and deprivation is back, alleged ACKHSA leader Pradip Dutta Roy. People still remember the statement of Himanta Biswa Sarma at a public meeting here in all third and fourth grade vacant posts in various departments of the valley, local candidates are to get preference. The Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has always been hammering on close coordination and relations between Barak and Brahamputra Valleys. It has gone with the wind, the opposition only sniffs and scoffs.

Barak BJP leaders maintain stoic silence over the renaming of Silchar railway station as Bhasa Sahid Station in hollowed memory of language martyrs despite the fact that the files, as claimed by Pradip Dutta Roy, have been cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs. No steps are seen initiated by saffron leaders for the establishment of a Bench of High Court here, a long pending public demand. Opposition is girding up its lions to put BJP on back foot and slippery ground in the next Assembly elections of 2021 on these and many more issues.

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