Assam chief secretary Alok Kumar with minister Parimal Suklabaidya, ADGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta and BJP MLAs from Cachar on his maiden visit to Silchar as Chief Secretary of Assam on Monday. Photo: Aparna Laskar

Newly appointed Chief Secretary of Assam, Alok Kumar, upon reaching Silchar on Monday on his maiden visit of Barak valley after assuming this top administrative post, got down to the brass tacks of attending to the key issues of this region.

Accompanied by Additional Director General of Police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Chief Secretary of Assam, Alok Kumar, had a several rounds of meetings with the Cachar district officials and MLA Borkhola, Kishore Nath, MLA Katigorah, Amar Chand Jain, MLA Udharbond, Mihir Kanti Shome, MLA Sonai, Aminul Haque Laskar, apart from MLA of Dholai and Minister of Environment, Forest, Fisheries and Excise, Parimal Suklabaidya at the Deputy Commissioner Cachar’s office on Monday evening.

His visit though took a tacit turn when many organizations, leading citizens, and NGOs who have raised various issues on NRC from time to time with the state government as well as at the centre, boycotted to meet him after made to wait for more than two hours.

A public meeting with him and members of various organizations and intellectuals was supposed to take place on key issues of NRC at 5 pm but most of them left by 7 in the evening after failing to have his presence amidst them.

Silchar District Congress Committee President speaking to Northeast Now said, “It seems the present government as also their representatives are least interested to hear our concerns on NRC and want to bring out the final list as per their will. I believe, a fair and correct NRC list, is least likely to come out at the end.”

Kamal Chakraborty, of Unconditional Citizenship Demand Forum, came down heavily on chief secretary not sparing time to talk on the issue of NRC on Monday evening. He said, “His meeting with district officials on issues like constructing of roads linking Balacharra to Harangajao seems more important, as if, he is going to construct these by today or tomorrow. Our main concern right now is NRC. It is a very sentimental issue and a serious issue for us, and his not giving us time for this, is an insult for all of us who have turned up to talk about it.”

Chief Secretary Alok Kumar though had a brief meeting with a few and sundry, but, briefing about his visit to the media later, said, “A meeting was held to clear the bottlenecks of the stretch of National Highway linking Balacherra to Harangajao and that issue has been cleared. Some other major road projects too were discussed. Those who have left in anger, I would request them to come back again at 9:30 on Tuesday morning for me to hear their grievances.”

He added, “I cannot comment anything about NRC right now as it is a process under the direct supervision of the Honourable Supreme Court of India and can only hear as to what the people of Barak valley have to say for me to put it up in the right place at a right time.”

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