NEW DELHI, Feb 27 � Confirming that Maoists has emerged as the latest threat to internal security in Assam, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi called for special treatment for all naxal and insurgency affected districts of the State.
The Chief Minister, who was reacting to a move to declare Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts as naxal affected districts, expressed the opinion that there was no difference between insurgency and naxalism. Therefore, I have been requesting that special treatment be extended to both insurgency and naxal affected districts,� said Gogoi.
�I have been saying this since long that in all those districts affected by insurgency and naxalism special treatment should be extended,� he said.
The Chief Minister, who was addressing a press conference, said that he has called on the Prime Minister, Home Minister, the Congress president and vice president Rahul Gandhi.
Referring to ULFA, the Chief Minister expressed his confidence that Paresh Barua would one day join the peace process. The support base of the militant outfit has shrunk and ULFA has weakened over the years. �Today, I am in a better position to control ULFA,� he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has urged the Prime Minister not to lower the deployment of forces in Assam. �I am surrounded by foreign countries and some of the insurgent outfits still have bases in these countries,� he said, adding that most of the insurgent groups still operate out of Myanmar.
�We are vulnerable and hence the deployment of central forces cannot be decreased,� Gogoi said, admitting that the State�s police force also needed to be further strengthened.
About the political turmoil in neighbouring Bangladesh, the Chief Minister said he was worried over the recent development. �Assam is Bangladesh�s immediate neighbour and whatever happens there has a direct impact in my State,� he said.
�We have best of relations with Bangladesh and we are keen to promote trade and economic ties with the country. Let there be peace in the country,� Gogoi said.
