NEW DELHI
Allegations of links between a Minister in Assam and outlawed ULFA came back to haunt the Tarun Gogoi Government, with a MP belonging to UPA alliance, contending that an official Commission of Inquiry hailed ULFA for ensuring smooth Assembly election. The debate on Demands for Grants for Home Ministry turned murkier, with allegations mostly from MPs from Bihar, flying thick and fast. The MPs, cutting across the party line, castigated the Government for its failure to check the killing of Hindi-speaking settlers.
The other issue that dominated the over four-hour long deliberation was the illegal influx from Bangladesh and the rising threat to internal security from the illegal migrants.
The most startling allegation, however, came from RJD MP, DP Yadav, who quoted from a piece of paper to allege that the KN Saikia Commission said that the last Assembly election in the State could be held because of the cooperation by ULFA. He claimed that he was reading from a report of the Commission.
However, he did not clarify further. Kirip Chaliha, who was the lone MP present, watched in stunned silence. None of the State’s MPs in opposition camp including AGP and BJP were present at the House, as the Government bashing continued. Saikia Commission was appointed by the State Government to inquiry into the ‘secret killing’ in the State.
Yadav then went on to ask what steps were being taken by the Centre to tackle the situation in Assam, where unabated killing by ULFA and Black Widow Group continued. “Why has the Government not been able to stop the killing of the Hindi-speaking people,” he asked.
Picking up from where the RJD MP left off, Prabhunath Singh of JD (U) created a sensation by alleging that a Minister of Assam was protecting ULFA. “How can a Minister of the Government act as a protector of a militant outfit,” he wondered.
Seeking a response from the Union Home Minister, he asked, how could such a situation be allowed to continue. “I believe there is an IB report in this connection with the Home Minister,” he said, pleading that Patil should clarify.
Earlier, Swami Aditya Nath said there was no let up in killing of Hindi-speaking people in Assam. He charged that the Government failed to pressurise neighbouring Bangladesh to flush out ULFA out of the country, unlike the previous NDA regime, which had successfully pressurised Bhutan to throw out the militant outfit.
Joining the discussion, Kirip Chaliha conceding that there has been a spurt in terror incidents in Assam and Manipur, reminded that such killings were handiwork of insurgent groups and local people had nothing to do with it. On the contrary, militant outfits like ULFA are fasting loosing support at the ground level. Their secessionist feeling does not have any basis.
Describing terrorists activities as the greatest threat to democracy, Chaliha said that the terrorism have become big business. Terrorism gives them name, fame and money. He was also against giving any concession to the insurgents. The concessions given to the terrorists should not become the breeding ground for terrorism,” he said.
Lauding the initiative of the Union Home Minister in tackling the internal security situation, Chaliha pointed towards recurring incidents on the Indo-Bangladesh border. The Bangladesh Rifles is opposing the construction of fences. Completion of the border fences must be accorded top priority because fencing alone would prevent infiltration from that country, he opined.
Meanwhile, continued influx from Bangladesh rocked the House, with members cautioning the Government of its implications. Bangladesh has admitted in 2001 that 2 crore of its population has vanished. Then there is a report by Assam Governor that 5000-6000 Bangladeshi enter the country daily, said Yogi Adityanath.
Illegal Bangladesh migrants have become internal security threat. However, the stand of the Home Ministry is unfortunate, he added.
Joining issue, Ramjilal Suman said that infiltration from Bangladesh has become a major problem. The problem has become critical because Bangladesh is not cooperating, he added.
Pointing towards the problems faced by farmers in border areas in Tripura, Mohammad Salim said lakhs of farmers have suffered because of the fences. He said the border trade should be strengthened. By keeping the borders closed, government is encouraging corruption among the security force. Smuggling is on the rise, while Government is loosing revenue, he added.
Pointing towards the problems faced by farmers in border areas in Tripura, Mohammad Salim said lakhs of farmers have suffered because of the fences. He said the border trade should be strengthened. By keeping the borders closed, government is encouraging corruption among the security force. Smuggling is on the rise, while Government is loosing revenue, he added.
Raising alarm over the unabated smuggling, Anant Gete said that there are estimated 2 crore Bangladeshi in India out of which 40,000-50,000 are living in Mumbai alone.
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