MIRZA, Oct 15 - Chhaygaon LAC Congress Committee on Friday staged a massive protest rally at Chhaygaon demanding immediate cancellation of the recent State Cabinet decision to withdraw the district status to South Kamrup, citing poor infrastructure facilities there.
The Congress protesters also organised a huge procession along the National Highway-37 and staged a dharna programme demanding withdrawal of the Cabinet decision.
Later, the Congress protesters blocked the NH-37 at the South Kamrup DC Office premises at Chhaygaon for over an hour, disrupting road communication. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Governor and Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of South Kamrup district demanding an immediate review of the Government�s decision.
Addressing the protesters , the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Debabrata Saikia said that the opposition parties, including the Congress, have been supporting the pro-people programmes of the present BJP-led Assam Government for the last four months. But he expressed surprise over the decision of the BJP-led State Government to withdraw the South Kamrup district status by trampling the wishes and sentiments of the people of South Kamrup.
He also strongly criticised the Government�s reasoning for the decision citing poor infrastructure facilities in South Kamrup for which the district could not be established.
�The capital of Assam was transferred from Shillong to Assam (Guwahati) without having infrastructure facilities in Guwahati and that the Assembly sessions of the Assam Government were also held in Assam soon after the transfer of the capital despite Guwahati not having necessary infrastructure facilities,� said Saikia. He added that withdrawal of South Kamrup district status will never be accepted at any cost.
Talking to this correspondent, the Chhaygaon MLA, Rekibuddin Ahmed said that South Kamrup has a unique culture and heritage and the State Government should have recognised the cultural heritage of the people. But instead of recognising it, the Government has trampled upon the rights, sentiments, culture and heritage of the people of South Kamrup.
Ahmed further said that the agitational programme would continue until the goal of South Kamrup district is achieved.
Congress MLA from Boko LAC, Nandita Das also took part in the protest rally and severely criticised the State Government�s move.
Meanwhile, the South Kamrup AASU units have also declared a series of protest programmes in the days to come against the Government�s move.
