Assam: People’s protest restores train service, but BJP leaders rush to claim credit in Sribhumi

BJP leaders in Sribhumi have come under fire for attempting to take credit for the restoration of regular train services at Mahishasan Station, a move widely seen as a direct outcome of sustained public protests.

Located at the India–Bangladesh border, Mahishasan was previously recognized as a junction due to its railway linkage. However, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, train services dwindled to just one day a week, severely affecting hundreds of commuters across the region.

 

Frustrated by prolonged neglect, local residents launched a massive agitation on June 23, gathering in large numbers at Kumarghat Station. The protest escalated into a clash between citizens and police, turning the spotlight on the issue.

 

Nearly a month after the protest, the railway authorities responded, announcing that train operations between Mahishasan and Silchar would resume six days a week. The much-awaited service began from today, marking a significant victory for local residents.

 

However, what unfolded next has sparked controversy. BJP leaders, including ex-president of Sribhumi district Subrata Bhattacharya and Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, along with other party functionaries, were seen at the station celebrating the resumption of services.

 

In what many perceive as an attempt to appropriate credit, the leaders staged a celebratory scene complete with balloons, flower garlands, banana plants, conch shells, ululations, and firecrackers in front of the train engine, projecting the revival as a government achievement rather than a result of public pressure.

 

Local residents have expressed mixed reactions. While many are pleased with the restoration of train services, others criticized the political grandstanding. “It was the people who suffered, protested, and forced the change. Now they’re being sidelined in their own victory,” said one resident.