After ethnic violence claimed 79 lives and displaced more than 22 thousand people in Karbi Anlong in Assam, it is time now for political parties to start a blame game  instead of addressing the root cause of the violence. Assam Government has alleged about the involvement of the Red Army, an offshoot of  the CPI (ML), in the latest round of violence.

On the other hand, CPI (ML) leader Jayanta Rongpi has alleged that the Congress was trying to escape responsibility of Karbi violence by creating a non-      entity. According to him ‘’There is nothing called Red Army in Karbi Anglong and it has been created by the Congress.’’ On its part, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader S. S. Aluwalia has found the involvement of NSCN (IM) in the recent ethnic clashes. However, he received a rebuff from his own party when Nagaland unit of the BJP condemned his statement and said that the statement made by Mr. Aluwalia was his personal view.

Joining the blame game Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) demanded ouster of the Congress Government in Assam. AGP president Brindabon Goswami said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and the ruling Congress had lost the moral right to continue in office after its failure to contain violence in Karbi hills. According to him the State Government had miserably failed to carry out its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of innocent tribal villagers belonging to both Karbi and  Dimasa tribes. Mr. Goswami further pointed out that it was the fourth spell of ethnic violence in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hill districts during the tenure of Congress in the state.

Moving a step further, Prafulla Mahanta led AGP has observed a bandh in protest against the alleged failure of the State Government. The Left parties had also supported Mr. Mahanta. Demanding an emergent session of Assam Assembly, the former chief minister of the State sought Governor’s intervention.

“If the state government declined to hold an emergent sitting of the Assembly, it would cease to have any moral right to be in power. Under such circumstances, we will demand imposition of President’s Rule,” Mr. Mahanta stated. Angry over the allegation    made from some quarters that NSCN (IM) is involved in the latest violence in Karbi Anlong, the underground organization has reacted sharply and asked for proof. Terming the allegations as baseless and  unfounded, the NSCN (IM) said that “If at all, it’s a move with ulterior motives to sabotage the peace process”.

Reacting sharply to the Assam Governor’s report on the Karbi-Dimasa violence alleging the involvement of the NSCN (IM), the outfit dared the ‘report creators’ to substantiate the allegations with needful proof, said Kraiba Chawang, Deputy Kilonser, MIP “If at all, it’s a move with ulterior motives to sabotage the peace process”. Chawang also pointed out if the organization was approached, then it was ever prepared help the two communities arrive at a ‘peaceful settlement’ of their discord. Further, Chawang also denied the accusation from various quarters that the NSCN (IM) was involved in conducting forcible conversion of the tribals in Assam saying that if those who were alleging knew that the organization was involved in conversion then “they also tell us how many religious teachers have send.

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