GUWAHATI: Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has lambasted the Sarbananda Sonowal-led government over growing crimes against women and children of late in the state, alleging that the current dispensation was not serious on the issue.
“It is unfortunate that the state government has failed on its duty to provide security to women and children. Till date no measures have been taken to stop such crimes which are happening on a regular basis,” Gogoi told reporters here on Thursday.
The former chief minister said that setting up fast track courts was not enough as they could only facilitate speedy trials. “But such crimes need to be nipped in the bud, which is not happening,” he said.
Gogoi also minced no words to say that Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu should have expressed concern in no uncertain terms and condemned such incidents of violence during his visit to Assam.
“The image of the country will take a hit if there is inaction against the perpetrators of crimes against women and children. There have been widespread protests on the issue but the government seems to be unconcerned,” he said.
Assam Accord
The former chief minister expressed surprise at the silence of the Sarbananda Sonowal government on the issue of detection of foreigners in accordance with the Assam Accord, which clearly says that people who have migrated to Assam after March 24, 1970 should be branded foreigners and not granted citizenship.
“Foreigners should be detected on the basis of the Assam Accord and not on the basis of religion. The process of detection cannot change or else the Accord might as well be scrapped,” Gogoi said.
“I am surprised there is a perceptible difference in the stance of Sonowal when he was AASU leader and now when he is the chief minister of a BJP-led government. The stance has apparently changed like seasons and there is silence, which also raises questions on the government’s commitment. It smacks of self interest and is against Assamese society,” he alleged.
Criticising the state government for not taking a clear stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Gogoi said there was no justification as to why the people of Assam have been kept in the dark.
The Bill makes illegal migrants eligible for citizenship on the basis of religion.
He further criticised the Satra Mahasabha for being influenced by the state government and RSS on the move to grant Indian citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis. “The Satra Mahasabha has been apolitical but if some satradhikars play a role in politics, they would only be compromising with their ideals and duties,” Gogoi said,
Banking system
He also took a dig at the Narendra Modi-led government for the apparent shortage of cash in ATMs and the “failure” of the financial system.
“We have also witnessed bank scams like never before. People are having doubts on the banking system, which is a dangerous trend as the economy will eventually collapse. This is nothing but a conspiracy to privatise banks which benefit the richer sections. It indicates a shift towards capitalism, the signs of which are therefore ominous while democracy is in peril,” he said.
The former chief minister also flayed the Assam government for not taking deadlines seriously. “There is no action plan in regard to implementation of infrastructure projects. This government only believes in promoting itself through advertisements and slogans,” he added.