Prominent citizens organisations of Assam have come together to form a platform to launch a campaign for good governance prior to the two-phase assembly polls in April.
Prominent citizens' organisations of Assam have come together to form a platform to launch a campaign for good governance prior to the two-phase assembly polls in April.
Alleging the parliamentary democracy was being 'denigrated' by almost all political parties in the state, the convenor of the campaign and former director general of police Harekrishna Deka termed the situation as a matter of grave concern resulting in the imperative need to launch a campaign for good governance.
Deka alleged that criminals and corrupt people have thronged the parties and the reign of money and muscle power were ruling everywhere.
The organisations also planned a mobilisation of citizens on April 2 to make the common man aware of their political rights.
"We are just asking them (people) to be aware of their political parties...and we appeal to the masses not to be tempted by the false promise of the politicians," he added.
A conscious citizen should under no circumstances vote for a candidate who is known to be corrupt, even if no specific case is pending against him and people should not vote for a person who is chargesheeted for a serious criminal offence, Deka said.
The platform consists of Assam Nagarik Samaj, Abhijatri, Action Aid, North East Network, Anwesha, Guwahati Press Club, Greater Guwahati Citizens' Coordination Committee, North Eastern Social Research Centre, lawyers of Guwahati High Court and students' of Cotton College and Gauhati University.
The organisations have also prepared a questionnaire for the politicians and urged political parties to clear their stance on several issues like plans for overall economic development of the state, plan to root out corruption from public life and steps to stop criminalisation of politics.
The questionnaire includes issues like big dams, foreign national, rehabilitation of internally displaced people, permanent peace in the state, revamping of the agricultural sector, plans to empower the rural poor and people in the unorganised and changes in the present education system.
Deka also pointed out that the educated middle class and the internet savvy young generation can do wonders by educating the rural and semi-urban masses and making them aware of their political rights.
"We are the citizens of the 21st century with mobile phones and internet communication faster and reducing the cost and time of mass mobilisation," he added.
He also urged the media to play an important role in educating and making the people aware of their rights by exposing the corrupt and dishonest politicians and involve the political parties in meaningful debate and discussions.
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