Assam CM Sarma criticises Congress, urges support for BJP in upcoming by-elections
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took aim at the Congress, accusing it of obstructing development and lacking commitment to public welfare.
The ongoing protest over lifting water under the drinking water scheme from Ali Khad, located on the Solan-Bilaspur district border of Himachal Pradesh, resonated in the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
After Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania allowed the discussion on the issue on Friday, the dissatisfied opposition staged a walkout from the House on the second day of the Budget session.
Earlier, raising the issue under Point of Order, BJP MLA Randhir Sharma stating its urgency said that the agitation for lifting water from Ali Khad has been going on for 22 days.
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Due to the government’s fault, a situation like India-Pakistan enmity has arisen among the people of both districts on this issue, he said.
Sharma said that this issue did not arise overnight, he had raised this issue in the planning meeting and then he along with the delegation, also met the Chief Minister regarding this issue.
He said that on the orders of the Chief Minister, a committee was formed to look into the matter. However, despite this, the contractor working on the drinking water scheme did not stop the work, even though the Chief Minister had ordered it to stop the work.
Randhir Sharma said that as per the sentiments of the local people, he also joined the movement and went to the spot but he was lathi-charged by the Solan District Police due to which he too sustained injuries.
He alleged that the police also registered a case against him under various sections, including the section on robbery.
Sharma said that the construction of this new project on this ravine will affect 31 schemes in the Bilaspur district, which include 24 drinking water and seven irrigation schemes.
“Instead of lifting water from Ali Khad, there are options for this scheme to lift water from Kol Dam, which the government should consider,” he said.
He demanded the Chief Minister’s intervention in this matter and called for the cancellation of the FIR registered against the MLAs and others.
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