“If Lachit Borphukan Could Fight Saraighat, Why Can’t Youth Build Bridges?”: CM Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said there is a prevailing mindset that construction-related work in Guwahati can only be carried out by labourers of Bangladeshi origin, a perception he said must change.

He pointed out that several infrastructure projects in the city have already demonstrated the capability of local youths.

Referring to the Guwahati–North Guwahati bridge project, CM Sarma said many local youths have been involved in the construction, countering the belief that labour must be sourced from outside the state.

“There is a mindset that if people coming from Bangladesh origin are only the persons that can be hired for construction related works in the city,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that during meetings with contractors, they informed the government that labourers are typically hired from Malda, Siliguri and Jalpaiguri, or that people of Bangladeshi origin migrate to Guwahati for labour-related work.

However, he said the government gradually intervened and asked contractors to involve local youths from various indigenous communities.

“Slowly we asked them to involve our local youths from tea tribes, Assamese youths and many other indigenous youths who are ready to do work,” CM Sarma said.

Drawing a sharp historical comparison, the Chief Minister questioned why local youths are underestimated.

“If Lachit Borphukan fight for the battle of Saraighat, why the local youth cannot involve themselves in making a bridge?” he asked, adding that “it’s all about the change in mindset.”

He further stated that all technical work in major infrastructure projects has been carried out by local youths of Assam, while labour work has included people from different communities.

Directing the Public Works Department, CM Sarma said at least half of the workforce in state projects must be local and indigenous.

“I have directed the PWD labour to get 50 per cent of the workforce in the state must be local and indigenous,” he said.

Citing an example, the Chief Minister referred to the Bogibeel Bridge in Dibrugarh.

“If compared with the Bogibeel Bridge in Dibrugarh, all the labourers were from the Mising community of Assam and that is 100 per cent sure,” he added.

Clarifying his stance on migrant labour, CM Sarma said the government has no objection to people who migrated to Assam before 1951 being employed.

“We have no objection to providing work to a Miya who came to Assam before 1951,” he said.

However, he expressed concern over what he described as continued infiltration over the past two to three decades.

“In the last 20 to 30 years, many Bangladeshi origin had come to Assam after watching its development. Shockingly, every year new faces comes in. If we try to stop them, they try to enter via West Bengal or also via Kolkata,” CM Sarma stated.

Highlighting employment-related contradictions within the city, the Chief Minister remarked that local youths are often ignored even for basic jobs.

“Many people in Guwahati do not even hire an Assamese person as their driver,” he said.

Raising a pointed question, he added:

“Our boys can build bridges, but can’t they drive vehicles?”

CM Sarma also pointed to the semiconductor project at Jagiroad, saying Assamese youths are already working there as labourers.

“My intention is to build the infrastructure along with stabilising the economy of the Assamese community,” he said.

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