Gogoi blames Union Home Min for border problem

PMO seeks report on clashes; Home Minister calls up CMs of Assam, Nagaland

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday accused Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh of failing to provide security along the state’s border with Nagaland and accused the Centre of not taking the recent violence there seriously.

Addressing a press conference here, Gogoi said “Yes, I am responsible as the state CM for what is happening along the border. But why are you not blaming Rajnath Singh? Why are same charges not being made against the union home minister for failing to give protection?” The Assam-Nagaland border, he said, is a disputed subject and the area is controlled by the Centre with the help of CRPF, a ‘neutral’ force which failed to provide security to the people and properties there.

But the Centre, he said, is not taking the issue seriously at all. “It is a very serious issue but the way they are handling it, is not serious.” He condemned the police action against protesters at Rangajan area of Golaghat district Tuesday and said the government will order an inquiry by Additional Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Das into the incident that left 22 civilians and seven police personnel injured.

District police had earlier put the figure of injured at 18, including women, in the firing of rubber pellets and lathi charge when protestors turned violent and attacked police and CRPF following a road blockade agitation Tuesday. Gogoi said “A few policemen might be at fault but for that the entire force cannot be blamed. The Assam police is still one of the best police force in the country.”

The police, he said, lathi charged and used rubber bullets when protesters became violent following the rescue and release of nine Nagaland police personnel who were illegally confined by villagers since August 15. “Despite all these, people in the border still have confidence in Assam Police and not in the central force. They want replacement of the CRPF by Assam Police. “If the border is given to me, I will show how to protect people,” Gogoi claimed.

Gogoi said the central government is more equipped and has better resources to tackle situations like in the Assam- Nagaland border and it is its responsibility to give security in the neutral land.

The chief minister said a joint Secretary would be visiting Assam on Thursday to take stock of the situation. He brushed aside allegations that the police became violent on Tuesday in retaliation to the attack on his convoy by villagers a day before during his visit to the affected places. Gogoi also charged the electronic media, both national and local for presenting only ‘a one-sided biased story’.

Over 10,000 people have fled their homes and are taking shelter in relief camps. So far, Nagaland police have arrested 15 persons and CRPF apprehended nine persons in connection with the violence, Gogoi said.

Meawhile, The Home Ministry on Wednesday submitted a report to the Prime Minister’s Office on the ongoing violence along the Assam-Nagaland border after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought details on it.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Mishra asked the Home Ministry to send details of the situation along the border in Golaghat district in Assam where violence erupted about a week ago after armed groups from Nagaland allegedly attacked villagers in Assam.

“We have already submitted the report to the PMO,” Home Ministry sources said. The report was sent within hours of the PMO’s communication seeking details of the situation.

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought the report on the situation along Assam- Nagaland border Home Minister Rajnath Singh telephoned chief ministers of Assam and Nagaland and asked them to defuse tension along the borders of the two states.

Singh told Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his Nagaland counterpart T R Zelian that violence along the border must end at the earliest and all possible steps should be taken to defuse tension.

Official sources said the Home Minister told Gogoi and Zelian that action must be taken against those who indulge in violence and police must maintain restraint while facing peaceful protesters.

The Home Minister suggested that the chief ministers should sit across the table and find out ways on how to bring harmony between the people of Assam and Nagaland living along the border.

Singh offered Gogoi and Zelian all Central assistance to bring back normalcy along the Assam-Nagaland border. He also conveyed to them that Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju will travel to Guwahati on Thursday to take stock of the situation and talk to both the chief ministers. Zelian will be in Assam on Thursday to attend a meeting of chief ministers of all northeastern states. (PTI)