NEW DELHI, Dec 2 � Despite concerns over the prevailing law-and-order situation in Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today downplayed such reports, claiming that the Centre is not upset with the State Government over the issue.
The Chief Minister denied that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had made adverse remarks about the prevailing law-and-order situation in the State. �They have not said any such thing. It is just an interpretation of the media,� Gogoi claimed.
�I admit that the situation has somewhat deteriorated. Everyone knows about this and the State Government itself has furnished details on these reports to the Centre,� he said.
The Prime Minister and the Home Minister had expressed concerns over the escalating tension in certain parts of the State and the growing mistrust between the tribals and the non-tribals in the BTC areas.
Interestingly though, notwithstanding the Chief Minister�s bid to downplay the Centre�s concern, the PCC executive had passed a resolution on the deteriorating law-and-order situation asking the State Government to act.
The Chief Minister, accompanied by PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita, was talking to newsmen at the 24 Akbar Road Office of the AICC this afternoon, minutes after attending a quarterly review meeting chaired by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
The meeting was also joined by AICC general secretary in-charge for Assam, Dr CP Joshi, secretary Avinash Pandey, AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi and the political advisor to the Congress president Ahmed Patel.
When asked, the PCC president told this newspaper that the AICC, in the last round of the quarterly review meeting, had given some tasks to the party as well as the government. The progress of these tasks was reviewed today and new assignments were given.
�The meeting discussed the strategy to tackle the problems faced by the minority community, tea tribes and tribals. These issues cannot be resolved in a single day. But we discussed them today,� he said.
�We are not thinking about reshuffle right now, but I can�t say what happens in the future,� he said while replying to questions about the possibility of reshuffling his Council of Ministers. �I can�t say there would be no reshuffle; this is my personal opinion,� he added in the same breath.
�If the AICC directs me, I would be forced to effect a reshuffle,� he said. �I have submitted the performance reports of the ministers and MLAs. They will examine these reports. Some MLAs have not submitted their reports. We have asked them to submit them soon,� he added.
Gogoi, however, declined to comment when he was asked who was the best performing minister, stating that he has submitted the report and it is for the AICC to decide.
�I don�t know what complaints have been filed against the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Ranee Narah by Congress MLA Raju Sahu. The PCC and the AICC will consider it,� he said.
On replacing the State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister said he cannot comment on what others were saying.
On singer Debojit Saha joining the Congress, he said he has welcomed it because the party needs people from all walks of life.
