Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma hands over 11,000 appointment letters

GUWAHATI: Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday distributed appointment letters to more than 11,000 new recruits of 24 government departments at a mega ceremony here, taking one more step forward towards fulfilling BJP's poll promise of providing one lakh government jobs.
The function was also aimed at sending a strong message to the Opposition, which has been alleging foul play in the just-concluded examinations for recruitments in Grade III and IV posts. The government had also faced severe criticism for suspending mobile internet services in the vicinity of the exam centres during the written tests to prevent cheating and other such malpractices.
Since early morning, the new appointees accompanied by their family members started converging on the Veterinary College playground in Khanapara. Among them were several young mothers, who came with their babies, to receive their appointment letters.
Posting a video of the youths walking to the ground, Sarma wrote on Twitter, "What an euphoria over distribution of appointment letters to thousands of youth later in the day at Veterinary College playground, Khanapara! Look forward towards fulfilling our commitment to providing 1 lakh jobs."
"We are committed to fulfilling our pre-poll promise of providing one lakh government jobs. About 27,000 appointments have already been made in the last one-and-a-half-years, and today we are increasing the tally further," he reiterated.
In a stern message to his detractors, the CM said his government will take every step possible, including shutting down internet services, to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process in the state.
"If it is for the cause of the poor, the middle class and the underprivileged people, we will suspend internet for 20 hours next time without any hesitation," the CM said.
"When the results of these Grade III and Grade IV exams are out, I ask the journalists to find out one person who can say that he or she got the job through unfair means. If even one such person is there, our government will quit from power," Sarma said.