In a sweeping crackdown against corruption in Assam, over 200 government officials have been arrested on bribery charges since 2021 by the anti-corruption department and CM vigilance team. While these arrests portray a resolute stance against corruption, there lies a deeper and more intricate web of malpractice.

The irony unfolds when examining the nature of the arrests, which predominantly target lower-level officials such as mandols, sub-inspectors, or junior engineers soliciting bribes ranging from INR 5,000 to 50,000. This raises questions about whether these arrests merely serve as a smokescreen, diverting attention from a more significant game at play.

Above the surface, a clandestine understanding with the establishment appears to shield higher echelons from scrutiny. Massive sums of money are allegedly funneled through well-connected lobbies with ties to sectors like areca nut, soil mafia, and coal mafia. These sectors, known for their lucrative returns, become breeding grounds for unchecked corruption.

Despite these revelations, the public narrative is often manipulated by showcasing arrests of what can be deemed as 'small players' in the grand scheme. The big players, orchestrating large-scale corruption, seem to operate with impunity, avoiding arrests and questioning.

While the government projects an image of progress through the construction of bridges and flyovers, an intricate network of corruption prevails. Unwanted projects, favorably awarded to specific contractors, often emerge in the constituencies of influential ministers. This pattern raises concerns about the allocation of public resources for personal gains.

Alarmingly, Assam witnesses a growing number of affluent individuals but in a pocket. This trend persists and is dangerous in the absence of a robust public industry, IT sector, or structured import-export trade sector. This persistent pattern threatens to suffocate the vibrant lower-middle class and establishes an uneven societal playing field.

The concentration of affluence in specific areas is alarming and has the potential to suffocate the economic diversity essential for a healthy society. In the absence of a widespread public industry, pockets of prosperity can lead to skewed opportunities, favoring specific regions over others. It signals a deeper issue – the existence of a covert network of black money intertwining politicians and businessmen.

In the fight against corruption, it is imperative to look beyond the arrests of lower-level officials and address the systemic issues that allow these covert networks to thrive. Only then can Assam pave the way for genuine transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.