GUWAHATI, Sept 19 � The Assam Government has requested the Speaker of the State Assembly to convene a special session of the House to discuss the land border agreement signed between India and Bangladesh. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today staged a demonstration in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Gandhi Mandap in protest against the land border deal.
The Assembly Speaker will finalise the date of the special session in consultation with the Governor. The special session is likely to be held after the Durga Puja festival.
On the other hand, amidst widespread controversy on the land border agreement, a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party, office-bearers of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, district presidents of the Congress and the legislators of the Boroland People�s Front was held in the central hall of the State Assembly to discuss the issue. At the meeting, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi clarified the Government�s stand on the land border issue and other issues concerning the people of the State.
Chief Minister�s media adviser Pankaj Bora said after the meeting that Gogoi made it clear that there was a misconception about the land border agreement. Giving details of the present position, Gogoi said that the State Government gained 1240 acres of land and now the border fencing can be pushed forward in some parts of the border. He said that the Baraibari area was never in possession of India and the border fencing in that area was constructed by leaving out that area during the regime of the AGP Government in the state. He pointed out that the agreement solved the long-standing border dispute with Bangladesh.
On the issue of dams, the Chief Minister said that the need for more power cannot be overlooked as hydropower is the cheapest power. However, at the same time, he said that the safety and interests of the people of the State would be kept in mind.
The Chief Minister also announced at the meeting that the process of updating the National Register of Citizens would start soon.
Bora said that the meeting, which was also attended by APCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita, decided to hold a mass rally in Guwahati on Sunday next, which would be followed by rallies in different parts of the state to make the people aware of the policies and schemes of the Government. He also said that the Congress has decided to gear up for the ensuing Panchayat polls in the State.
