The UPA Government’s trouble-shooters have swung into action after it learnt of an Opposition strategy to rake up the ‘grievances’ of the truckers of the North-east. In the dock are Meghalaya and Assam governments.
In a fast-paced development, Congress president, Sonia Gandhi met Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and discussed a gamut of issues including the truckers’ problem. It is learnt that Dr Sangma during the discussions appealed to theCongress president for AICC intervention in resolving the boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister, who arrived here last evening, spent the whole of Saturday meeting senior office bearers of AICC. Anticipating trouble from the Party High Command, he took some action against the officials and middlemen, responsible for running an extortion racket running into crores of rupees.
Reports of the truckers being backed by his arch rival Dr D D Lapang have added to his growing nervousness, sources said.
Both the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya are expected to be directed to ensure dismantling of all illegal gates and collection centres immediately.
As reported by this newspaper the North East Commercial Truck Owners and Operators Association (NECTOA) has alleged that local police inAssam and Meghalaya, district transport officials, politicians were all involved in the ‘broad daylight robbery’. In Assam, a section of Youth Congress leaders are operating weigh bridges that charge exorbitant rates.
Sources said trouble began for the UPA Government, when the delegation of the Association, which was camping in the capital for over two weeks, met top BJP leaders including L K Advani, Opposition leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley reportedly, besides CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, who is the chairmanof the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture.
While Yechury is leading a delegation of the Standing Committee to Shillong to take stock of the situation, the Opposition BJP is bracing up to corner the government in both the Houses of the Parliament. An edgy UPA Government fearing an Opposition onslaught, has gone into an over-drive.
The delegation had also met Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram, after which the Meghalaya Government was sent an advisory to act against the extortionists. Governor of Meghalaya, R S Mooshahary too had dashed off a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs seriously indicting theMeghalaya Government for turning a blind eye to the illegal extortion racket, despite several reminders from Raj Bhavan.
All charges apparently fell on deaf ears in Shillong, as no action was taken until the Congress party High Command got involved.
President of the NECTOA, Augustine Shanpru had told newsmen here last month that NH 62 in East and South Garo Hills in Meghalaya and Ahim-Boko Road connecting Dhupdhara Bridge on NH 37 inAssam were the places where these illegal collection centres and gates were located.
In Assam, on the NH 37, within a distance of 25 km, three weigh bridges have been set up, one of which is operated by a senior office-bearer of State YouthCongress. These bridges charge Rs 3500 per truck per trip and collection is done without being issued of any receipt.
“In the name of road preparation, Rs 300 is collected at 13 different places in one particular stretch in Assam. Besides, Rs 2000-3000 is collected at Dhupdhara Bridge on NH 37, allegedly in direct connivance with Goalpara Police. Around 200 trucks carrying coal ply daily, Shanpru had alleged.
If the Association is to be believed at least 600 coal-laden trucks ply daily during season time on NH 62 and each truck is forced to pay Rs 10,000 per trip. An estimated Rs 60 lakh is collected daily during November-April and the money does not go to the State Government’s coffer but to the extortionists’ pockets, it was alleged.
The Association had called for a CBI probe into the entire racket.
Source: Assam Tribune
