Thaindian News

Guwahati, Aug 17 (IANS) As its people continued to arrive from states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the Assam government Friday sent its ministers to Bangalore and Hyderabad to discuss the exodus of northeast citizens following rumours that they would be attacked.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also convened an all party meeting at his office chamber in Dispur to discuss the situation.

While Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain and Industry and Power minister Pradyut Bordoloi went to Hyderabad, another team, including Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka and Transport Minister Chandan Brahma, left for Bangalore.

“We are going to meet the state machinery in the concerned states including the chief minister to review the situation. We are also going to meet the students and other members of the Assamese community living in those states,” Agriculture Minister Deka told IANS.

Some students arrived at the Paltan Bazar railway station here Friday. Security was stepped in and around the station to ward off any trouble.

“The students and families who arrived in the station in Guwahati were immediately sent to their respective places on a shuttle service so that they cannot shout any slogans and worsen the situation,” said an official of the Government Railway Police (GRP).

The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) also held a press conference and said Gogoi was a mute spectator.

AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya also blamed All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badaruddin Ajmal.

“We have found him masking provocative statements, apparently to fan communal passion. The riot in BTAD (Bodo Territorial Area District) was between indigenous people and illegal foreigners but he is trying to give a Hindu-Muslim colour to it,” Bhattacharya said, referring to the recent ethnic violence that saw more than 70 people killed.

The pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) also appealed to the state and central governments to secure the lives of people, particularly the students’ community of Assam, outside the state.

The faction of reformed militants warned that they would be compelled to target all the outsiders living in the state if the government failed to protect Assamese students pursuing careers outside the state.

Gogoi had Thursday said he had already spoken to the prime minister, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and state governments to ensure security to the people from the state.

He also appealed to the people in Assam not to panic.