The Leader of Opposition in Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia responding to queries from journalists and others regarding his participation in a reported meeting of the State Security Commission to select the next Director General of Police (DGP), Assam, Saikia said that he had not received any intimation or invitation to participate in any such meeting.
“If the reported meeting was indeed held while keeping me in the dark, then I condemn the development in the most unequivocal terms. I must point out that the reports submitted by the National Human Rights Commission, the Ribeiro Committee and the Sorabjee Committee, have all mandated the presence of the Leader of the Opposition in deliberations of the States’ Security Commissions for the purpose of selecting the DGP,” stated Saikia.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
He also stated, “The Supreme Court too has also accepted this practice. Therefore, if the State government has really gone against the laid-down norms and shunned the Leader of the Opposition while taking such a crucial decision, then it would only serve to expose afresh the undemocratic and arrogant mentality of the BJP-led ruling combine.”
Saikia further said that in case the reported meeting had not taken place, then he demanded that it be held without any delay because the incumbent DGP would retire in barely a week’s time and Assam did not deserve to be saddled with a rudderless police force.