SILCHAR: A controversy surrounding the educational qualification certificates allegedly submitted by some newly elected councillors of the Silchar Municipal Corporation (SMC) took a fresh turn on Thursday, as a group of protesters staged a demonstration in front of the District Sports Association (DSA), coinciding with the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected municipal board.

The protest drew attention to allegations of irregularities in the educational documents submitted by certain councillors during the municipal election process. Holding posters and raising slogans, the protesters demanded an impartial and transparent investigation into the matter, insisting that the authenticity of the certificates should be properly examined by the concerned authorities.

One of the posters displayed during the demonstration carried the message, “We will not accept the politics of deception; we will not bow before forgery.” Through such slogans and posters, the protesters expressed their dissatisfaction over what they described as serious questions surrounding the educational qualifications declared by some elected representatives.

The protesters maintained that the issue should not be treated as a minor political controversy, as educational qualification documents form part of the information submitted by candidates during the election process. They demanded that the authorities examine the certificates in question, verify their authenticity from the respective educational institutions and take appropriate action if any irregularity is established.

They also called for transparency in the verification process, arguing that the public has the right to know whether the documents submitted by elected representatives meet the required standards. The protesters further demanded that the findings of any official inquiry be made public so that doubts surrounding the matter could be addressed.

The timing of the demonstration added significance to the protest, as it took place on the day when the newly elected SMC board formally assumed office. The swearing-in ceremony marked the beginning of a new term for the municipal corporation following the recently concluded election, which saw representatives elected from all 42 wards.

The controversy has brought the educational credentials of elected representatives into public discussion at a time when the new municipal board is expected to take up several important civic issues, including drinking water supply, drainage, waste management, road conditions and urban infrastructure.

The protesters’ demand for verification has also raised questions about the scrutiny of documents submitted by candidates during the election process. They urged the concerned authorities to ensure that the matter is examined through proper procedures rather than allowing allegations and counter-allegations to dominate public discussion.

However, the allegations raised by the protesters have not yet been established through any official finding. The authenticity of the certificates in question remains subject to verification, and no conclusion can be drawn until the competent authorities complete an inquiry.

The development has added a fresh layer of controversy to the political atmosphere surrounding the newly constituted Silchar Municipal Corporation. The focus now remains on whether the concerned authorities will initiate a formal verification process and clarify the allegations surrounding the educational qualification certificates.