AASU Attacks PM For Not Keeping Promise On Floods

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Guwahati, Aug 23 : The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress-led government at the Centre for allegedly not keeping its promise of treating Assam’s flood and erosion as a “national” problem.

“The Prime Minister had, in a tripartite meeting on May 5, 2005, announced that the government will declare Assam’s flood and erosion as a national problem. But more than six years have passed and nothing has been done,” AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said.

Bhattacharyya also pointed at an Assam government advertisement issued soon after the meeting of May 2005, which clearly mentioned that the PM had agreed to declare it “national” problem.

He said, “What is more disturbing is that the Prime Minister is no stranger to Assam. He has been a member of the Rajya Sabha from here since 1991.”

The AASU, which on Sunday sent relief material for the people affected by the recent flash floods in Dhemaji district in eastern Assam, also blamed the state government for not reaching out to the majority of the flood victims. At least 10 persons have been killed in the flash floods and several are still reported missing. While the flash floods have affected over 1.54 lakh people in the district, the people are now facing severe shortage of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s Monday visit to Dhemaji had to be called off due to inclement weather.

According to sources, he is likely to make an aerial survey of the district and visit a few spots on Tuesday.