Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Govt role flayed

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Feb 12 � The Government�s act of imposing the Panchayat polls in the Rabha Hasong area can be equated with the general elections imposed in Assam against the wishes of the people in 1983, said the president of the All Assam Students� Union (AASU), Sankar Prasad Roy.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, Roy said that the State Government is solely responsible for the situation in the Rabha Hasong area. He said that in 1983, the Central Government imposed elections against the wishes of the people of Assam and the same act was repeated by the Congress Government in Rabha Hasong areas. The Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi must take the blame for the loss of innocent lives and damage of properties in the poll related violence.

Roy alleged that the Chief Minister was working in the interest of the Bangladeshi nationals by overlooking the sentiments of the indigenous people of Assam. He pointed out that different organizations of the Rabha Hasong area were demanding the holding of the Council polls, but the Government overlooked their demand to hold the Panchayat polls. The Chief Minister�s action of ignoring the sentiments of the indigenous people

resulted in deterioration of the situation, he added. He pointed out that the Government held talks with those opposing the polls and those supporting, but both sections of people were not brought to the negotiation table at the same time to settle the differences.

The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has demanded that the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, should step down owning moral responsibility for the deaths of number of persons in Rabha Hasong area. The AGP said that in a meeting organized by the State Election Commission two months back, all the parties barring Congress had opposed holding of the Panchayat poll in the Rabha Hasong area till the disputes are settled. But the Government imposed poll without giving importance to the sentiments of the people, the AGP said.

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) also blamed the Government�s failure to deal with the situation for the violence and demanded action against officials who failed to play their role in maintaining law and order.

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) has also criticized the Government for the poll related violence in the Rabha Hasong area. The KMSS said that the situation deteriorated because of a conspiracy by the Government.

The Sadau Asom Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) has also expressed concern over the incidents of violence in the Rabha Hasong area. The Parishad demanded a thorough probe into the incidents of violence and said that those involved should be punished.

Next Story