NEW DELHI, May 7 � In a strong comment on handling of the situation in Kokrajhar, State Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for urgent Central intervention in the face of fears that the situation may deteriorate after May 16.
The State Health and Education Minister made this request to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, when he called on her here this afternoon.
At the meeting, Sarma reportedly briefed the Congress chief on the situation in the BTAD areas. At the end of the meeting Gandhi reportedly assured that she would discuss the issues raised by Sarma with Tarun Gogoi.
Sarma later told newsmen that he had conveyed to the party�s High Command that additional forces including Army should be deployed in the BTAD areas. He told the newspersons about fears expressed by various quarters that the situation might deteriorate further on May 16, when the election results are scheduled to be declared.
The Minister refrained from criticising the State Government, putting the blame on the district administrations for failing to contain the violence in the two districts.
He held that while the rest of the State has witnessed decentralisation of power through the Panchayati Raj system, in the BTC areas powers have not been devolved to the grassroot level. There should be decentralisation of power in the BTAD areas, he demanded.
He said he felt that the Congress Party should clarify its stand on creation of Bodoland.
He held the opinion that the BPF alone was not in a position to handle the situation and the State Government should act. He further suggested review of the Bodoland Act.
Sarma�s meeting with Sonia Gandhi was significant given the fact that he was once the key troubleshooter, who was entrusted with the responsibility of handling the situation during the ethnic riots in BTC areas.
Meanwhile, students of DU and JNU held a protest in New Delhi�s Assam Bhawan against the Bodoland killings. New Socialist Initiative, a Leftist organisation comprising students of Delhi University and JNU staged protest demonstrations against the killing of Muslims in Bodoland.;
