No immunity for anyone found guilty of graft: Assam CM Sonowal
He says even if chief minister indulges in corruption, he will not be able to escape action as officials have been given a free hand to investigate corruption cases.
Amid allegations that investigation into high-profile corruption cases has slackened, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal reiterated his government’s resolve to fight graft on Monday.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal says officials have been given a free hand to investigate and take action against anyone involved in corruption or hoarding black money. (PTI File Photo)
Addressing mediapersons in Guwahati, Sonowal stressed that officials have been given a free hand to investigate and take action against anyone involved in corruption or hoarding black money.
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“No one will be spared. You can be assured of that. Forget others, if the CM indulges in corruption, even he won’t be able to escape action,” Sonowal said.
Since coming to power in May last year, the BJP-led coalition has taken action on several corruption cases and arrested many government officials found taking bribes or indulging in dishonest means.
But in recent weeks allegations have surfaced in media and from civil society groups that investigations into several such cases have slowed down or high profile bureaucrats accused of corruption are being spared.
The cases include the cash-for-jobs scam in Assam Public Service Commission and also the alleged misappropriation of nearly Rs 30-crore by senior information directorate officials during the previous Congress regime.
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The chief minister asked people to be patient and have faith in the investigating agencies probing cases of corruption.
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The chief minister asked people to be patient and have faith in the investigating agencies probing cases of corruption.
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“No one can stop or influence investigations as I myself am looking into these cases. Things have changed and it’s not like what it used to be in the previous (regime),” Sonowal, who heads Assam’s first BJP-led government, said.
Accusing the previous Congress government of failing to take effective steps to root out corruption, he reiterated BJP’s stand on good governance and assured continued campaign against dishonest officials.
“Our aim is to provide good governance from the CM’s office to the ‘panchayat’ level and ensure benefits of government schemes reach all citizens,” Sonowal said.
Coinciding with first anniversary of demonetisation, the Assam government would also mark November 8 as Anti-Black Money Day with programmes across the state, he informed.
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.
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