CM flays PCPIA, ULFA for violence

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held the People’s Committee for Peace Initiative, Assam (PCPIA) and the ULFA responsible for the May 13 incident in Doomdooma areas and warned legal actions against those instigating people for ‘unjustified’ agitational programmes. He also condemned the killing of six Hindi-speaking persons by the ULFA in Doomdooma areas and made an appeal to the militant outfit to give up violence.

Gogoi, seemed to be remorse-stricken with the latest incidents of violence, however, claimed that despite all the incidents of violence, extortion etc, Assam was moving ahead. “No body (investor) is running away from Assam,” he said.

The Chief Minister also alleged that people were threatened to take part in the road blockade programme. He claimed that there was no justification for a weeklong road blockade programme in the wake of the killing of Budheswar Moran by the Army, as the State Government had already announced a Commissioner-level inquiry into the incident, he said.

Describing the incidents of clash between the protestors of Budheswar Moran’s killing and a section of the tea estate workers as unfortunate, he said that blockade of the roads by the protestors for a long time led to shortage of foodstuff in the tea estates.

Even the ailing ones of the tea workers were not allowed to be taken to the hospitals by the agitators. They should have at least exempted essential services from the purview of the agitational programme, he said.

Even the Government of Arunachal had lodged a complaint with the Assam Government complaining hardships to the people of the neighbouring state due to the road blockade programme. The agitational programme was continued even after the Government’s announcement for instituting the inquiry and directing the Army not to harass people.

An atmosphere is to be created to dissuade the people not to take recourse to road blockade programme, he said and made an appeal to all sections of the people to extend cooperation to the Government to end the road blockade programmes. However, he said, “I do not mind a road blockade programme if taken up for four to five hours.”

In reply to a question, he said that the Government was maintaining restraint while dealing with the Doomdooma protestors. Last year’s Kakopathar situation, which emerged from a similar road blockade programme after the security forces’ killing Ajit Mahanta, is still haunting, he said, adding, “The Government is learning from Kakopathar and the like situations.”

In reply to another question, he said that his visit as demanded by the agitators, was in no way going to solve the problem. “What extra assurance I could give to them as I have already announced the steps to redress the grievances of the agitators,” he retorted.

On the ULFA’s targeting again the Hindi-speaking people in Doomdooma areas, he said that the Government had anticipated some violence after May 13 and so the security forces were alerted. But it is a difficult proposition for the Government to provide security to every Hindi-speaking person living in the State. For, these people are living in a scattered manner in many areas.

He said that he was facing serious difficulties in tackling the militants. For, whenever a person is arrested on charges of being a militant, people start making hue and cry demanding the person to be innocent.

He admitted that extortion by the militants was going on. But unless the amount demanded by the militants is a big one the affected persons do not approach the administration, he said. The Chief Minister also maintained that it was difficult for the administration to check each and every two-wheeler.

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