Guwahati: Displaced families from the Silasaku eviction site have once again taken to the streets, their renewed agitation fueled by recent statements from Assam’s Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Jayanta Malla Baruah.
The minister’s assertion that alternative land was allocated for commercial establishments prior to the eviction has ignited a firestorm of discontent, with the 1,203 affected families claiming they are still awaiting the promised rehabilitation.
The families, who had temporarily suspended their protests following assurances from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, now feel betrayed. Gayatri Bori, a spokesperson for the displaced, expressed their disillusionment at a press conference held at the Dispur Press Club. “The Chief Minister looked us in the eye and promised rehabilitation and fair compensation,” Bori recounted, “He also pledged a follow-up meeting to finalize the details, but that meeting never materialized.”
Bidyut Saikia, General Secretary of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, further accused the government of discriminatory practices. “Three years have passed, and our people are still without homes, while the government prioritizes relocating corporate entities,” Saikia alleged. The protesters highlighted what they perceived as selective enforcement, questioning why structures like Himmat Sinka’s 17-story building and Badruddin Ajmal-linked properties, including “Prithibi Greens,” remained untouched.
The protesters also raised concerns about the Royal Heritage and Royal Palace buildings, hinting at potential government involvement or vested interests. Representatives from the Silasaku Eviction Resistance Movement, including Momina Begum, Nomi Haldar, Bitumoni Das, Sonatara Hazarika, and Akash Dal, joined Bori and Saikia at the press conference, reinforcing the collective demand for justice and the fulfillment of the government’s promises.
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