Assam Assembly: Debabrata Saikia flays BJP-led govt over vaccination; demands modification of vision document

By Devabrata Dutta

GUWAHATI: Congress leader Debabrata Saikia, MLA from Nazira constituency, today trained his crosshairs at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party over its allegedly faltering COVID-19 vaccination process and also asked for clarification on a few matters on the last day of the 15th Assam Legislative Assembly.

Debabrata Saikia said on the Assembly floor, “We have supported the government when they came with a suggestion of 30 percent salary deduction from the legislators because of COVID during the last budget session. And the government had also promised to build temporary health facility centres. But when the second wave of the deadly COVID virus arrived, we are unable to see any of those health centres.”

“The Assam government should have worked more sincerely at this time of COVID-19 pandemic. Only vaccination can reduce the fatality of this disease, yet, even after allocating Rs 35,000 crore in the last union budget, Assam is not able to vaccinate its citizens,” Saikia further added.

"India created a world record by becoming a polio free country during the later period of 2009-14. Vaccination could be possible at that time due to the support of grassroots workers. But in recent times, in many places of Assam, one cannot find a vaccine even if they want to. For example, Fakirganj of South Salmara has yet to start a vaccination center,” he further pointed out.

Saikia also asked for a substitute for online vaccination registration as all citizens are not computer savvy.

Also Read: Assam: Over 400 Passengers Flee Railway Station To Evade COVID Test

Saikia also asked for clarification on a few matters that the Assam governor had missed out from his speech in the Assembly earlier and also suggested a few rectifications such as compensation for the lockdown affected families and granting of Rs 5000 to those.

There was no mention of Laika-Dadhia, Jamuguri, and flood-affected people residing on river spurs, and asked to provide them land pattas as well, he added.

Despite mentioning in their (the BJP's) vision documents, dredging of Brahmaputra and construction of superhighways on its both sides are yet to be executed, the senior Congressman added.

Saikia also made certain recommendations to the BJP-led government such as Rs 351 daily wages for the tea garden workers (which was promised during the 2014 election itself), Autonomous Council for Tai-Ahoms of Upper Assam under 6th schedule status, accelerating the process of NRC and Assam Accord appliance, posthumous Bharat Ranta or Padma Vibhushan for Homen Borgohain, discussion to make peace with the ULFA (I), etc.

Saikia also urged the BJP to publish a list of the tasks they have accomplished in the 10 years' vision documents for Assam with a whopping 500 promises.

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