Kokrajhar, July 28: Noting that there were “initial difficulties” in controlling the violence in Assam's BTAD and Dhubri districts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said both the Centre and state government would take measures to normalise the situation and provide a healing touch to victims.
Singh announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of those killed in violence, and Rs 100 crore package for special assistance towards development of Kokrajhar.
“What has happened is very sad. I share your grief and all of us are with you in this hour of your suffering,” the Prime Minister told reporters at a relief camp at the Kokrajhar Commerce College after meeting refugees. Asked what led to the trouble, the Prime Minister said, “The issue is very complex and when peace returns we will analyse it.”
He said, “We are all Indians and we must remain united. This is not the time to make allegations and counter-allegations. We all have to live together.” he said.
“Our top priority is to restore peace and we will provide all necessary facilities to the affected people,” he added. The Prime Minister's visit to Kokrajhar was delayed for more than two hours after his helicopter, along with that of the two others, had to return to Guwahati due to technical problem. He later left in an IAF one.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh and APCC President Bhubaneswar Kalita.
Though the Prime Minister was scheduled to visit two relief camps he could visit only one, because of delay in arrival.
Meanwhile the National Council of Churches in India today accused the Union and Assam governments of lacking in “political will” to prevent influx. The Council in a statement in Shillong said the “disaster” in the northeastern state could have been averted had infiltration of migrants been properly checked at all levels.
“We believe that this disaster (Assam violence) could have been averted, if both the Centre and the Assam government would have taken careful steps, with a strong political will, to check the infiltration of migrants to India, especially to Assam,” NCCI general secretary Roger Gaikwad said in a letter to the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram yesterday.
Gaikwad said, “About 10,000 sq km land have been occupied by the migrants and they are now spreading over to other districts. Such influx and occupation will definitely create a fear psychosis among the indigenous people; being helpless, they are bound to retaliate.”
He said the ongoing ethnic violence in Assam, especially in the districts of Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang since July 19, was a “repetition” of the 2008 carnage in Kokrajhar where 55 people were killed and thousands others displaced. Gaikwad expressed “regret” that leaders were not able to read early warnings.
Expressing concern at the relocation process of the displaced people, he said, “It is also a matter of great concern and upsetting to see that this unwanted episode is being repeated, displacing people, destroying property, and annihilating human lives.”
