I
t is the rule of syndicate raj in Assam. A section of police and administrative officials and politicians are allegedly receiving crores of rupees from syndicates that patronized by Youth Congress leaders. But the commoners have to bear the brunt of the situation due to hike in prices of many commodities. Saturday’s clash at Paltanbazar fish market exposed how Youth Congress leaders have been extorting money from people by setting up syndicates in the markets particularly in those dealing with fish, fruits and betel leaf markets. It is learnt that the two groups which clashed on Saturday have been patronized by the Youth Congress leaders. While Nanka Yadav was patronized by a senior leader of Youth Congress, the other group was sponsored by the outgoing president of the organization. But why the police failed to swing into action. The arrest of Nanka is also said to be staged to cover up the failures of police. In more than one way, these syndicates have been creating confusion, terror among the traders and indirectly affecting the lives of the common people. Syndicate raj was the outcome of former chief minister late Hiteswar Saikia’s suppressive policies. The Late Chief Minister Saikia had allowed many surrendered ULFA activists to collect goonda tax especially from fish, fruits and pan traders coming from outside the state during the 90’s. The AGP government had also followed the same path. The then chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had engaged some new faces for running such syndicates. The net of syndicate holders gradually spread to other areas like railways, oil installations and auction markets. However, chief minister Tarun Gogoi came to power in 2001 on the promise of a good governance. But his promises have gone in vain. Gogoi had stopped illegal collections of all check gates and weigh bridges in some parts. But he turned a blind eye to the syndicates of fish, fruits and pan markets. In the past eight years of Gogoi’s regime, Youth Congress leaders have been patronizing these syndicates. It is also alleged such illegal collections have gone to coffer of Dispur politicians. The difference is that: SULFA activists were beneficiaries of such syndicates during late Saikia and Mahanta’s tenure and now Youth Congress leader are getting benefits. Many syndicate owners are now trying to legalize the trade forcing suppliers to supply goods in the name of some society or firm that they set up for the purpose. Many a time such supplies are being made in the name of some societies without having any existence. It is also alleged the police and administrative officials are also among the beneficiaries of such syndicates. What makes the situation worse is that due to the syndicate prices of fish, fruits and pans are going up day by day making the lives of commoners miserable. In the capital city Guwahati syndicate holders collect more than Rs 1 crore per month from fish fruit and pan markets. They impose goon tax on pan, fish and fruits coming from outside by rail or truck. The wholesaler or retailer had to pay such exorbitant price for the commodities they purchased from syndicates resulting in increase of prices. However, Gogoi government turned a blind eye into it for the reasons best known to it. let the people to decide how much Gogoi is committed to people?
t is the rule of syndicate raj in Assam. A section of police and administrative officials and politicians are allegedly receiving crores of rupees from syndicates that patronized by Youth Congress leaders. But the commoners have to bear the brunt of the situation due to hike in prices of many commodities. Saturday’s clash at Paltanbazar fish market exposed how Youth Congress leaders have been extorting money from people by setting up syndicates in the markets particularly in those dealing with fish, fruits and betel leaf markets. It is learnt that the two groups which clashed on Saturday have been patronized by the Youth Congress leaders. While Nanka Yadav was patronized by a senior leader of Youth Congress, the other group was sponsored by the outgoing president of the organization. But why the police failed to swing into action. The arrest of Nanka is also said to be staged to cover up the failures of police. In more than one way, these syndicates have been creating confusion, terror among the traders and indirectly affecting the lives of the common people. Syndicate raj was the outcome of former chief minister late Hiteswar Saikia’s suppressive policies. The Late Chief Minister Saikia had allowed many surrendered ULFA activists to collect goonda tax especially from fish, fruits and pan traders coming from outside the state during the 90’s. The AGP government had also followed the same path. The then chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had engaged some new faces for running such syndicates. The net of syndicate holders gradually spread to other areas like railways, oil installations and auction markets. However, chief minister Tarun Gogoi came to power in 2001 on the promise of a good governance. But his promises have gone in vain. Gogoi had stopped illegal collections of all check gates and weigh bridges in some parts. But he turned a blind eye to the syndicates of fish, fruits and pan markets. In the past eight years of Gogoi’s regime, Youth Congress leaders have been patronizing these syndicates. It is also alleged such illegal collections have gone to coffer of Dispur politicians. The difference is that: SULFA activists were beneficiaries of such syndicates during late Saikia and Mahanta’s tenure and now Youth Congress leader are getting benefits. Many syndicate owners are now trying to legalize the trade forcing suppliers to supply goods in the name of some society or firm that they set up for the purpose. Many a time such supplies are being made in the name of some societies without having any existence. It is also alleged the police and administrative officials are also among the beneficiaries of such syndicates. What makes the situation worse is that due to the syndicate prices of fish, fruits and pans are going up day by day making the lives of commoners miserable. In the capital city Guwahati syndicate holders collect more than Rs 1 crore per month from fish fruit and pan markets. They impose goon tax on pan, fish and fruits coming from outside by rail or truck. The wholesaler or retailer had to pay such exorbitant price for the commodities they purchased from syndicates resulting in increase of prices. However, Gogoi government turned a blind eye into it for the reasons best known to it. let the people to decide how much Gogoi is committed to people?
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