Guwahati: Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal took part in the 71st birthday celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Darrang locality in central Assam. As part of the Seva Samarpan Abhiyaan, Sonowal also interacted with BJP Karyakartas in Sipajhar and urged them to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation.
The saffron leader and immediate past State chief minister also visited the memorial of the historic Patharughat uprising, one of Bharat’s first peasant movements against the British colonial forces in 1894.
Sonowal offered floral tributes and planted a sapling in memory of those martyrs. He was accompanied by BJP Parliamentarian Dilip Saikia, local legislator Paramananda Rajbongshi with others. Continuing with Seva Samarpan Abhiyaan, Sonowal offered prayers at 450 years old Khatara Satra, a spiritual and cultural centre of Assam and sought blessings. He also took part in a Swachhta Abhiyaan at the Vaishnavite monastery. Later Sonowal felicitated prominent educationist Santaram Sahariya, Yoga teacher Dandapratap Sarma, farmer Dhrubajyoti Saikia and Ojapali artiste Mahendra Nath Sarma.
Meanwhile, State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled a life-size statue of Raja Gobinda Chandra Narayan Hasnu, the last king of Dimasa Kachari kingdom at Silchar circuit house premise in Barak valley. CM Sarma committed that the BJP led government in Dispur would continue working to preserve the language, culture, religious faiths, traditions and customs of all indigenous communities of Assam.
He also visited Khaspur at Udharbond locality under Cachar district, which was the last capital of Dimasa Kachari kingdom, and appreciated the unique architecture of the Dimasa Kacharis. Speaking on the occasion, Sarma stated that the government would take a project covering 100 bigha land to preserve the heritage of the Dimasa-Kachari kingdom at Khaspur and to turn the place into a tourist destination.
Earlier Sarma visited historic Bhuban Tirtha and offered prayer at the ancient temple atop the hill and sought blessings for the people. Attending a meeting there, he announced that the government would develop Bhuban Tirtha as an important pilgrimage site having all amenities for the visitors with the cooperation from locals.
On Saturday, Sarma dedicated 80 ICU beds including 40 for children at Silchar medical college hospital (SMCH). He also took stock of the progress of construction works for the 500 bedded hospital building at the same premises. He declared that the government is working to make health care services more advanced, accessible and accountable. Prior to the Covid-pandemic, SMCH had only 14 ICU beds. Now the number has gone up to 180 beds including 80 ICU beds. As a part of understanding with the Coal India Limited, another 40 ICU beds will be added to SMCH. Along with the 500 bedded hospital, Sarma added that the Cancer hospital at Silchar will also start functioning soon.
