GUWAHATI, March 22 - Some senior citizens of Guwahati while talking to The Assam Tribune, have stressed the need for visionary candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
�Our government is yet to lay stress on various sectors which could accelerate development of the country. So, for the next Central government we need a group of visionary leaders who could bring about some positive changes,� said Hemen Hazarika, a senior citizen and resident of Panjabari area of the city.
According to Hazarika, Assam urgently needs a land policy and to focus on the solar energy sector. �For a secure future of our new generation, we need a perfect and strong land policy, otherwise we will have to face an acute land crisis in coming days. We have to save our forest lands and paddy fields. On the other hand, there is immense scope for producing solar energy in the State. This form of energy can mitigate the power crisis in the State to a great extents. Our MPs and MLAs should lay emphasis on these issues,� he said.
Hazarika also stressed a permanent solution to the illegal immigration issue and an effective cut-off date to detect illegal citizens. He said the State needs candidates with leadership quality who can raise the burning issues of the State properly at the national level.
Another senior citizen Babul Chakravarty said, �To develop our country, there is a need for collective effort. A public representative should consider opinions of all sections of society in formulating any policy. Only then we can really see some change. Today the world has become like one family, so collective effort is a must.� He also underscored the need for minimum educational qualification of a contesting candidate, which is necessary to understand technical aspects of any development project.
�All public representatives should give up their self-interest to do something for the people... Our young leaders can make a change in the system,� he said.
�Our representatives should have to be concerned with the problems and issues of Assam. Voting is a very sacred process, so after election the elected ones should give due respect to the election process. If they defy the mandate, then one day the voters will kick them out,� said Mohit Chandra Sarma.
According to Sarma, educational qualification and knowledge of economics are a must in case of a good candidate. �We need MPs who could feel the emotion of the public and will be responsible for the nation,� he added.
Jayanta Tumung, a senior resident of Bonda, said, �We need a government which can secure the right of poor and weaker sections of society. Moreover, most of the people still lag behind in matters of proper road connectivity, water supply and electricity. A leader should be sensitive to these issues. This is why we need leaders with good educational qualification and vision.�
Boloram Sarkar of Birubari area said, �All MPs and MLAs should work to develop our country. But in reality we still lag behind in all spheres of public life. Even in the heart of Guwahati city, there is no adequate arrangement for streetlights, which proves a challenge in maintaining the law and order. The road condition is still not well developed, which creates hurdle for the development process.�
Sarkar asserted that at present people should consider the credentials of a candidate rather than the party he/she belongs to.
Another senior citizen Omar Faruk of Hatigaon area said, �At present there is an urgent need to secure the secular character of our country. The security system also has to be further upgraded. The unemployment problem too has to be looked into with all sincerity.�
