GUWAHATI, Jan 11 - Questioning the rationale behind the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS)�s clamour for granting land ownership to all and sundry � including those illegally occupying forestland � public activist Prof Deven Dutta today said that the KMSS is being run as per the whims of its chief Akhil Gogoi for furthering his vested interests.
Addressing a press conference here, Prof Dutta said Akhil Gogoi had always maintained a designed silence on the issue of detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants and sought to shield them for his narrow political ambition.
�Under pressure from the KMSS chief and with elections round the corner, the Chief Minister has agreed to grant land patta to people residing on the city�s hills, including reserve forests. Many of those illegally occupying the city�s hills are people with doubtful nationality. All along, the KMSS�s stand has been pro-illegal migrant with an obvious design,� he said.
Prof Dutta added that unless put under a most stringent verification mechanism, the land allotment exercise would end up granting citizenship rights to illegal migrants.
Terming the KMSS chief an anarchist, Prof Dutta said that he has a habit of instigating people for his vested interests during his stirs. �The self-immolation of Pranab Bodo during a stir was one such instance. The State government must institute a probe into the circumstances that led to the self-immolation incident, which was a case of instigation,� he said.
Prof Dutta also made it clear that his support to the KMSS on the issue of big dam and the APSC scam is �issue-based�, as those issues are of vital public importance to the State�s national life.
Reacting to Gogoi�s branding him a �hired talk show specialist on TV�, Prof Dutta said, �I am not the one who will adjust his words as per management policy or editorial policy of a media house. I will always speak what I believe to be the correct thing to say. I am like an old bamboo which would rather break but never bend.�
Prof Dutta added that there was no difference between Akhil Gogoi, ULFA, Congress and AIUDF when it came to the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration. �They merge in the same point when it comes to the issue of detection and deportation of illegal migrants,� he said.
Prof Dutta said Akhil is �dictatorial, selfish, crafty, cruel and heartless�, who always uses others only to discard them once his purpose is served.
�No less a person than Dr Hiren Gohain who is revered by all in the State has been a victim of Gogoi�s cunningness. It was due to the issue-based support of many distinguished personalities that Gogoi could rise to his present position,� he said.
Prof Dutta also questioned why the KMSS chief has become silent all of a sudden after having been vociferous on �land grabbing by Prithani, Lohia and Bhurakia�.
