AASU president Utpal Sarma, on Thursday, took exception to the Chief Minister's assertion that the accident should not be attributed solely to potholes and that other factors, including the speed of the vehicle, also needed to be examined. “Seven people died in the accident and after their death, the Chief Minister has made such an insensitive comment.

It is inhuman. The vehicle lost control after hitting a pothole and seven people died.

Why should there be potholes, and for what reason are they collecting toll tax then?” Utpal Sarma said at a press briefing in Guwahati.

The students' body also announced a statewide human-chain protest on September 11, demanding the repair and improvement of roads, including National Highways. “If people’s deaths are being taken so lightly, then people have understood how insensitive this government is.

We want to make it clear that the condition of roads should be improved. On September 11, across Assam, including the National Highways, the students’ organisation will organise a human-chain protest demanding the repair of all roads,” he said.

Utpal Sarma also questioned the government over taxes paid by citizens, referring to the Chief Minister's remarks on toll collection and government welfare schemes. “Yesterday, he made a remark that because we are paying toll tax, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving us schemes.

Then where is the GST that people pay, from food to clothes, going? People pay income tax after earning.

What about the loans that are waived for Adani and Ambani? Where does that money come from?”

he asked. Taking a swipe at the government's claims regarding all-weather road connectivity, Utpal Sarma questioned why roads deteriorated during the monsoon.

“The Chief Minister said that this happens during the rainy season. Then what is the meaning of the big roads that are constructed, inaugurated by big people and described as ‘all-weather connectivity roads’?

This means the Central and state governments are failing to build roads that can ensure communication in all weather conditions,” he said. He added that if roads were expected to become unsafe during the monsoon, schools and colleges should remain closed during the rainy season and shift to online classes, while office-goers should also be allowed to work from home.