NEW DELHI, Nov 29 � Political temperature in the State is likely to go up by several notches, with Opposition leader, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta holding Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi not only responsible for financial scam but also for criminalisation of politics in Assam.
Days after the Chief Minister accused Mahanta of being �manage master�, the Opposition leader has hit back, pointing to the cases of absconding convicts and alleged sheltering of NSCN militants by a State Cabinet Minister. The AGP leader has lost no time in dashing off a letter to the Prime Minister demanding �appropriate action�.
Addressing a press conference, Mahanta expressed the apprehension that the Congress may use the criminals during the Assembly elections. Mahanta was joined by Joseph Toppo and Kumar Deepak Das, both MPs.
The former Chief Mminister referring to the �sensational incident� of convicts of jumping parole which made the Gauhati High Court cognizance of the lapse, described it as not only shocking but something that created a dangerous situation affecting law-and-order situation and safety of life and property. It has come to light that 69 convicts lodged in various jails in the State jumped parole.
Mahanta alleged that convicts serving terms for criminal acts like murder, rape and attempt to murder were �released on leave� on grounds, which were absolutely of no significance.
The Opposition leader sought to further embarrass the Tarun Gogoi Government by referring to a series of reports in a daily owned by an ex-minister against a sitting minister from Sivasagar district, accusing him of sheltering absconding criminals involved in heinous crimes. He is also moving around openly with extremists belonging to NSCN (I-M).
�It has also been alleged that the said minister has meticulously planned to eliminate his opponents in and outside the ruling party to ensure his victory in the forthcoming election,� Mahanta wrote to the Prime Minister.
It is astonishing that after publication of such news, the Chief Minister is keeping quiet, which is nothing but admission of the fact. This has caused fear amongst members of various political parties and also the people of the State, Mahanta contended.
Meanwhile, Mahanta in a separate letter to the Prime Minister regarding update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), alleged that Government of Assam was intentionally delaying the pilot project.
Update the NRC being an important component of Assam Accord, the onus of implementing the pilot projects lies with Government of India. He urged the Prime Minister to instruct the State Government to resume the pilot project at the earliest.
