After hooch tragedy, Assam Assembly raises united voice against illicit liquor

The House witnessed more than five hours discussion on the issue as Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami used his privilege to extend the Zero Hour till the conclusion of discussion on the hooch tragedy.

He, however, disallowed an adjournment motion brought by the main Opposition party Congress, which had led the Congress to stage a walk out at the beginning of the Zero Hour.

The party legislators later returned to the House and participated in the discussion, along with two ministers and MLAs of both ruling coalition and other Opposition benches.

Moving the discussion in the Zero Hour, senior Opposition AGP legislator Brindabon Goswami raised demand for declaring Assam as a dry state and said,“The public is against alcohol. An entire generation is getting destroyed.”
“The government has introduced ‘permit’ system to check illicit liquor. But the question arises whether it has actually worked on ground,” he said.

AGP president and MLA Atul Bora raised apprehension on the overall physical and mental health of the tea garden workers’ community, who have fallen victim in this tragedy and are known to consume ‘sulai’, illegal distilled liquor which is suspected to have caused the current incident.

He pointed that though more than 100 deaths have occurred, there was no great sign of distress among the survivors, which indicate to problems in the mental set-up caused by generations of exploitation.

Congress Ajanta Neog alleged that Excise department officials are aware of the nexus involved in the illicit liquor trade, but have been turning a blind eye.
She demanded a complete ban on ‘laligur’ (molasses), used in manufacturing illicit liquor, a mechanism to stop illicit liquor altogether, massive awareness drive against it and arrest of the culprits.

Another Congress legislator Roselina Tirkey maintained that the blame must be shared by the tea garden owners, trade unions and the government for not doing enough to uplift the general well-being of the tea garden workers or uproot illicit liquor trade.

Opposition AIDF legislator Aminul Islam also raised a demand for making the state alcohol-free one, urging the House to adopt a unanimous resolution in this regard.

He further demanded a CBI enquiry, increase in monetary compensation to the victims of the tragedy and uprooting of all dens of illicit liquor.
Two ministers of State, Pijush Hazarika and Pallab Lochan Das, also participated in the discussion, along with other MLAs of the ruling BJP and BPF, besides other speakers of the Opposition parties.

Replying to the discussion, Parliamentary Affairs minister Chandra Mohan Patowary informed that 155 deaths have so far been confirmed in Golaghat and Jorhat districts since the tragedy unfolded on February 21 night.

He assured the House that exemplary punishment will be meted out to those responsible, while it was also being checked if the ‘laligur’ that is suspected to have caused the tragedy was supplied to other places also.

“There is a need for economic uplift of the tea garden workers’ community and an overhaul of the entire system,” Patowary added.

He also consented to a proposal by the Opposition parties for an all-party delegation, led by the Speaker, to visit the affected people.

Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, making his reply, maintained that since ‘sulai’ is illegal, it does not come under his department, nor can his department control ‘laligur’, as it falls under Food and Civil Supplies department purview.
He, however, added that his department will ensure stricter enforcement of existing Excise laws to stop illegal manufacturing or trade of illicit liquor.

“I have no problem in resigning. In fact, I had started my public life by fighting ‘sulai’ in tea garden areas of my place,” Suklabaidya added.

Earlier, when the Assembly had met this morning at 0930 hours, the Congress had demanded suspension of Question Hour to allow discussion on this issue.

When the Speaker had disallowed it, they had made noisy scenes in the House and stormed into the Well displaying placards against the government, leading the Speaker to adjourn the House for half-an-hour after taking up just one question.

Image: UNI