NEW DELHI, Nov 1 � Irked by the delay, Assam Congress has pressed the Centre to expedite the creation of legislative council in the State.
A 15-member delegation of Assam Pradesh Congress led by Dr Haren Das on Tuesday called on Union Minister for Law and Justice Salman Khursid to urge him to expedite the process. The delegation also submitted a memorandum. The delegation has also called on AICC general secretaries Janardhan Dwivedi and Digvijay Singh and is waiting for an appointment with the Prime Minister and the Congress president.
Dr Das told this newspaper that despite the Assam Assembly and the State Government�s approval, the matter is getting delayed. Assam Assembly has passed resolutions proposing creation of upper house on at least three occasions. Further Government of Assam has submitted all documents on July 18 to the Central Government.
The Congress delegation has pointed out the State�s complex demographic situation, in which a number of ethnic groups with political aspirations has been unable to fulfil their aspirations in the 126-member Assembly. Some of them have taken to arms, while others have failed to come to the Assembly. Therefore the upper house can do justice and help them fulfil their aspirations, said Das.
Meanwhile, Assam Congress is also likely to witness hectic politicking over reconstitution of the long-overdue PCC. While the PCC has passed a resolution in favour of retaining the old body with provisions for inducting new faces. A memorandum in this regard has already been submitted to the AICC general secretary in-charge for Assam.
However, a revival camp is insisting that the previous body be dissolved and a new PCC constituted. A delegation has sought appointments with Congress president and other senior AICC leaders to press for their demand.
Sources said a delegation has already met Digvijay Singh in Guwahati and appraised him about their demands.
A State Congress leader said one of the reasons, why they have sought a change is that some of the PCC members in the old body have charges of indulging in anti-party activities in the last Assembly elections pending against them. �We have demanded that those PCC members facing allegations should not be inducted until their names are cleared,� he said.
