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Uproar in Assam House over Karbi Anglong violence

Sushanta Talukdar

Opposition seeks clarification on Minister's statement leaked to media

Guwahati : The Assam Assembly on Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes over the continued violence in Karbi Anglong with the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and its breakaway faction AGP (Progressive) demanding a clarification on a senior Minister's statement.

The Minister had accused the administration of failing to bring the situation in the hill district under control.

Dilip Kumar Saikia (AGP) tabled a press release "signed" by Hill Areas Development Minister G.C. Langthasa which was withheld by the Information and Public Relations Department, but leaked to a section of the local media.

The release stated that a meeting of the Chief Executive Members and other members of the autonomous councils of both the hills districts — Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills -- chaired by Mr. Langthasa expressed grave concern at the ongoing violence in Karbi Anglong for the past two months. The councilsare run by the ruling Congress.

"The members questioned why the prevailing violence could not be brought under control while Governor, Chief Minister, top officials visited districts," the statement added.

It was also stated that at aNovember 25 meeting the members of both the councils alleged that "the relief camps were not guarded by the police and CRPF properly but only by Home Guards, who could not be effective while miscreants attacked."

The meeting also demanded that the two warring militant outfits— United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) should be disarmed immediately.

A resolution was also unanimously adopted urging the Centre and the State to create an autonomous state comprising both the hill districts, the statement added.

The matter was raised by the former Chief Minister and AGP (Progressive) president, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, and Mr. Saikia (AGP) following it up by reading out portions of Mr. Langthasa's statement.

Both the parties demanded a clarification from the Government. This led to a heated exchange between the members of the treasury bench and the opposition members. Mr Saikia even rushed to the well of the House displaying the statement signed by Mr Langthasa to impress upon the Speaker on the need for an immediate statement by the government on the matter. They also drew the attention of the government that in fresh incidents of violence in the hill district 50 houses were burnt on Tuesday night.

Mr. Langhasa was initially not present in the House but came in later. He, however, kept silent.

Minister of State for Home Rockybul Hussain made a statement on the prevailing situation in Karbi Anglong on instructions from the Speaker Prithibi Majhi. However, he did not refer to Mr. Langthasa's withheld statement. Mr. Hussain said 50 abandoned houses were burnt on Tuesday night and two bodies were recovered on Wednesday morning.

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Uproar in Assam House over Karbi Anglong violence

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