GUWAHATI, Jan 11 – Thousands of peasants from across the State assembled in the capital city on Monday, voiced their anger against the scam-tainted Tarun Gogoi government demanding its resignation over the multi-crore-rupee NC Hills fund anomaly and dispersed peacefully after squatting for more than two hours on the Dispur Last Gate Road.
The growing popularity and organisational strength of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS)was once again established when more than ten thousand of its supporters participated in its Hatred Day marching all the way to Dispur Last Gate via Chandmari.
Security was beefed up in and around the site of the protest programme, but the totally disciplined peasants in various age groups, some of whom were as old as 80 plus, did not give any moment of tension to the police force that had put up a couple of barricades on the Dispur Last Gate Road to prevent any untoward incident.
The protesters after reaching Dispur Last Gate, under the leadership of Akhil Gogoi shouted slogans against the government for the rampant corruption in the State, called Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi a thief and pressed for the arrest of Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
They then squatted on the road while several social and RTI activists including Arvind Kejriwal addressed them on issues affecting the socio-political and economic aspects of the State. Kejriwal said that the need of the hour was a law for constituting an independent agency to inquire into all cases of corruption. “The police, the CBI and whatever investigative agencies we have are under the government. Until we get an independent investigative agency, the perpetrators of corruption will not get punishment,” he said challenging Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to order an inquiry into the latest allegations of the KMSS instead of threatening Akhil Gogoi. He criticised the Congress governments both at the Centre and the State for ‘stealing the money of the poor’ and called upon the gathering to fight for their rights.
The Hatred Day was marked by a few distinctive traits as the KMSS chose to register its protest differently. Through songs and dance, the people expressed their hatred for the unbridled corruption of the Tarun Gogoi government and through a mass prayer in traditional Assamese style, they begged of the heavens for the downfall of the Tarun Gogoi government. Typical Assamese chanting filled the air as thousands of people bowed down.
Meanwhile the KMSS has alleged that the government machinery left no stone unturned to stop its supporters from reaching Guwahati. It said that hundreds of its members in Udalguri, Mangaldoi, Rangiya, Baihata Chariali and other places were not allowed to move by the administration.
