SILCHAR, Dec 23: “Dinesh Prasad Goala, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, and Gautam Roy, Minister of Excise and Border Area Development, prevented Ajanta Neog, Minister of PWD, from visiting Barak Valley (BV) for an on the spot study of the condition of NH-44 and PWD roads for whose improvement there has been continuous public agitation for the last several months”, pointed out Bithika Dev, MLA, while addressing the open session of PWD Workers’ Union meet here today.
Bithika Dev said this attempt by both the ministers “has its own story to tell and the people of this valley are intelligent enough to understand it”. It was more than explicit that if Ajanta Neog came here personally, it would not only expose the malaise of deep rooted corruption but also the blatantly false and fabricated representation about the improving conditions of highway and the roads for which the Central Government had already released huge amount.
Bithika Dev added to say it was high time to hit the nail on the head and call a spade a spade. She made it clear that by speaking the truth which had its reflection on the two ministers as well as the government of her own party, she might be denied nomination to contest for the next Assembly elections from here. But, as she said, “I cared not a hoot for that”. She spoke about her own embarrassment in facing criticism from people on the question of the pathetic conditions of highway and roads.
The MLA justified the fast unto death agitation undertaken by AIUDF MLA Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiya to press for the visit of Ajanta Neog six months ago. The PWD Minister did agree and on the basis of her assurance Majharbhuiya withdrew his agitation. The AIUDF MLA also met the PWD Minister and persuaded her to come and see for herself how her ministers from Barak Valley were trying to feed her with distorted picture on the highway and road connectivity.
BJP MP Kabindra Purkayastha who also addressed the open session made another startling disclosure by quoting Kamal Nath, Minister of Highways, that Rs 174 crore had already been released to the Gogoi Government for the improvement of NH-44 and expressed his surprise why the work for its improvement was not taken up. Purkayastha said that he came to know about it when he met Kamal Nath in New Delhi during the recently concluded Parliament Session.
Sontosh Mohan Dev, former Central Minister and ex-MP, while addressing the open session as special guest, did not miss the opportunity to hit at Gogoi Government for taking refuge under the subterfuge of assurances before the MP elections for the improvement of highway and roads. He asked, “where is Tarun Gogoi now and what about his promises?”. (SentinelAssam)
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