New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday acknowledged that jehadi activities were going on in the state but denied having any knowledge of the state’s main opposition party AIUDF allegedly having links with it.
The Chief Minister also said his government may hand over the probe of the Barpeta case, in which six persons were arrested in connection with the October 2 blast in West Bengal’s Burdwan town, to National Investigation Agency which is probing the Burdwan case. “Activities are going on…ISI activities, jehadi activities are going on. There is no doubt about that. We do not deny that. But we do not have any evidence against AIUDF,” he told reporters here after a meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Media reports in Assam have suggested that the All India United Democratic From, headed by perfume baron and Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal, was allegedly having links with Bangladeshi jihadi elements. “I will find out. In fact, we will go against any such individual. Any anti-national activity, whether jehadi or terrorist activities. Our main aim is that those who indulged in anti-national activities, jehadi activities or terrorist activities, they should be brought to book, they should be punished. We are vigilant,” Gogoi said in reply to questions of alleged jehadi activities in Assam.
Asked about activities of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which were involved in a blast in West Bengal’s Burdwan, Gogoi said Assam Police got some evidence on the activities of JMB and on the basis of that six people were arrested in Barpeta.
“We are cooperating with NIA. On the very first day, we have welcomed NIA because it is easier for NIA to find out the origin as the case has links with Bangladesh, West Bengal and other states,” he said when asked whether the case will be handed over to NIA. Gogoi said his government was taking all possible steps against anti-national activities, including ISI presence. “We are very much concerned. We are taking measures and we will not allow ISI and anybody to have a base. We will not compromise on national security and national integrity,” he said. (PTI)