Guwahati: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has sharply criticised the Assam government for what it calls its hypocritical policies—pretending to protect nature during the day while secretly destroying it at night.
The party has accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government of pushing forward with environmentally irresponsible construction projects rooted in unscientific planning, leading to the destruction of the state’s fragile ecological balance.
In a strongly worded press statement, AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi and General Secretary Jagadish Bhuyan alleged that the government, instead of preserving nature, has become an active agent of its destruction.
The party condemned the police repression on citizens who protested these acts, saying that such high-handedness exposes the authoritarian nature of the state administration.
Referring to the earlier protests in Guwahati’s Ambari area, the AJP leaders pointed out that in response to public outcry, the chief minister himself had publicly assured that no trees would be felled.
Trusting this assurance, the protesters had withdrawn. But shortly thereafter, the government organised a media event where a few trees were seen being ‘relocated’ with roots and soil to create the impression that the trees were being saved and not cut, the party asserted.
People saw this as a scientifically sound alternative and welcomed it.
However, under the cover of darkness last Friday and Saturday night, trees in Ambari were cut down again without public knowledge.
Those protesting this renewed destruction were reportedly detained and harassed by the police.
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The AJP leaders further lambasted the chief minister for his contradictory behaviour—on one hand, calling on people to plant trees in their mothers’ names on World Environment Day, and on the other, using his Home Department to suppress people protesting tree-cutting.
They said that such double standards are shameful and deeply disappointing, especially coming from someone in such a high constitutional position.
Condemning the anti-environmental, repressive, and anti-people steps taken under the garb of flyover construction based on flawed planning, the Assam Jatiya Parishad has called upon the government to immediately halt all activities leading to ecological destruction.
