GUWAHATI, July 16 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today stressed the need for strengthening of intelligence gathering mechanism and better coordination among the States and the Central intelligence agencies to deal with new challenges in the wake of increased jehadi activities in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Speaking at the 11th meeting of the Inter-State Council at the RBCC ceremonial hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan here today, Sonowal said the North East region faces serious challenges of insurgency aided by anti-India forces, ethnic conflicts, longstanding border disputes, drug trafficking, human trafficking and illegal international trade in rhino horns and other wildlife, and above all, illegal migration through porous borders and needs to have in place a coordinated and effective intelligence gathering mechanism to foil the sinister designs of nefarious forces out to disturb peace and harmony in the region.
To put across the gravity of the situation, Sonowal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh to equip the Assam Police with latest gadgets and weapons and intensive training to deal effectively with insurgents and jehadi elements.
The Chief Minister also underlined the need for strengthening the road communication and telecom connectivity along border areas and remote habitations in Assam and neighbouring States to thwart the nefarious designs of forces inimical to India.
The Chief Minister urged the Home Minister to take up a special initiative for providing latest equipment and technology to the police forces to match the firearms of insurgent and jehadi elements.
The Chief Minister requested the Prime Minister to consider alternative mechanism to Aadhar as the NRC update exercise is on and the Aadhar enrolment process will take time. �I request Prime Minister to consider using alternative mechanism to provide direct benefits, including subsidies and public services, to the citizens of Assam till that time,� he said, adding that the issue has caused genuine apprehension in the minds of the people that without NRC updation, Aadhar may be used by illegal migrants for availing various government benefits and for claiming citizenship. In this context, Sonowal proposed the use of Jan Dhan accounts for the purpose till the Aadhar enrolment is taken up.
For further improving the educational scenario, Sonowal requested for setting up of an Indian Institute of Management, a Central Horticulture University and scientific and educational research institutions.
