News Reporter
Promises to cleanse state administration, condemns past regime's misconduct during Panchayat election rally
Guwahati, April 28, 2025 — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday made a bold commitment to root out corruption from the state within the next three to four years. Addressing a massive rally ahead of the upcoming Panchayat elections, Sarma reiterated his government's zero-tolerance approach towards graft, promising a clean and transparent administrative system for the people of Assam.
Sarma's remarks came against the backdrop of recent anti-corruption initiatives undertaken by his government, notably the tabling of the Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma Committee report on irregularities in the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) recruitments. The report, which investigated fraudulent practices during the previous Congress-led government, exposed widespread corruption in the selection process for government jobs.
"The findings are shocking. During the Congress era, merit was sold for money, and female candidates were subjected to unimaginable harassment just to secure government employment," Sarma said.
He further lamented, "It is shameful that such exploitation happened in the land of Joymoti and Mula Gabhoru — symbols of Assamese courage and dignity. These are not mere allegations, but conclusions backed by the Justice Biplab Sarma Committee report."
The Chief Minister also highlighted ongoing actions taken by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, which has intensified its crackdown on corrupt officials across the state. In the last two years, dozens of government employees, including high-ranking officers, have been arrested on bribery charges.
Sarma asserted that the drive against corruption would continue relentlessly, adding, "Whether it's a peon or a senior bureaucrat, no one will be spared if found guilty."
He urged the people of Assam to stand with the government’s efforts, stating that "a corrupt-free Assam is essential for a prosperous and proud future."
According to government sources, the state has already introduced reforms like fast-track courts for corruption cases, digital monitoring of public services, and stringent background checks for promotions within government departments. A new initiative, “Mission Sadbhavana,” has also been launched to resolve pending service matters transparently and swiftly.
The revelations about the APSC scandal — which involved manipulation of answer sheets, forged documents, and illicit monetary transactions for prestigious posts like ACS (Assam Civil Services) and APS (Assam Police Services) — have triggered widespread public outrage. Several former officials have already been arrested, and more actions are expected as investigations deepen.
Political analysts view Sarma’s aggressive anti-corruption stance as a major campaign plank ahead of the Panchayat elections, which are crucial for consolidating BJP's hold at the grassroots level in Assam.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have criticized the BJP government for using corruption issues to target previous administrations but have remained largely silent on the APSC scam revelations.
As the Panchayat election campaign gains momentum, Chief Minister Sarma’s promises of clean governance and administrative reform are expected to resonate strongly with voters across Assam.