GUWAHATI: Even as the hooch tragedy toll mounted to 155 in the state, demand raised in Assam Assembly to declare Assam a dry state.
Legislators cutting across the party lines in Assam Assembly on Monday vowed to launch a united fight against illicit liquor and ensure exemplary punishment to those responsible for this tragedy.
State Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, participating in the discussion said that ‘sulai’ (illicit liquor) 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 over the tragedy. In fact, I had started my public life by fighting ‘sulai’ in tea garden areas of my place,” Suklabaidya added.
The House witnessed more than five hours discussion on the issue as Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami used his privilege to extend the Zero Hour on Monday till the conclusion of discussion on the hooch tragedy.
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.
Opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) 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.
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’, illicit distilled liquor.
Congress legislator, Ajanta Neog alleged that Excise Department officials were aware of the nexus involved in the illicit liquor trade, but had been turning a blind eye to it.
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 exemplary punishment to 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.
Replying to the discussion Parliamentary Affairs minister Chandra Mohan Patowary confirmed 155 deaths so far in Golaghat and Jorhat districts since the hooch tragedy unfolded on February 21 night.
Assuring the House that exemplary punishment will be meted out to those responsible for the tragedy, the minister gave consent to a proposal by the Opposition parties for an all-party delegation, led by the Speaker, to visit the affected people.
