Its election time and dousing fire of words, literally, between political parties and its leaders, would be the order of the day.
For the moment, to douse a real fire in any household of her constituency, MP from Silchar and All India Mahila Congress president, Sushmita Dev, donated, one modern water cum foam fire brigade vehicle, on Tuesday.
Acquiring it from her MP’s fund Sushmita handed over the keys to the fire officer in presence of district development commissioner, Ranabir Dam, and former minister of Assam, Ajit Singh.
Later talking to Northeast Now, outside District Sports Association ground, she said, “I have felt the need of such fire extinguishers being earlier the chairperson of Silchar Municipal Board. This fire brigade vehicle would not only cater to fire fighting of the town, but would also go to rural areas of this district. I have donated it from an MP’s fund for this money is of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
On being asked by this correspondent of other key areas that needs to be worked upon in Silchar, the second biggest township after Guwahati in Assam, she said, “Communication is the biggest challenge for Barak valley. It pains me a lot that this mahasadak that was made an issue before the last general elections by BJP is still not complete. I am happy that Barak river has been incorporated under national waterways and ONGC too would be upgraded.”
She added, “I am worried with the coal issue that is troubling us. Lack of coal is affecting our tea gardens and a lone cement industry. My question is, when acquiring of coal from Coal India, for which Assam has a quota, I still don’t know, why the State Government is sitting on top of it. I still don’t know why even Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who had made so many promises speaking on his visits to Barak valley, has not done anything so far. I have raised these issues in Parliament and would continue to do so.”