Assam-Mizoram clashes: Cong forms 7-member committee to assess situation

After the violent clash between Assam and Mizoram over a border dispute, the Congress party has constituted a seven-member committee to assess the situation on the ground. The committee has been asked to submit the report of the matter to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing dispute between Assam and Mizoram over the border issues, Congress on Tuesday, formed a 7-member committee to assess the situation. In a statement released by Congress General Secretary for Assam, Jitendra Singh stated, "A Seven Members committee is to be formed with immediate effect with the following members to visit Cachar and any other area to assess the Assam - Mizoram border dispute on the ground and the ensuing violence that has cost the lives of police personnel amongst others."

The members of this committee are Bhupen Bora (President, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee), Debabrata Saikia (CLP Leader, Assam Assembly), Pradyut Bordoloi (MP), Rockibul Hussain (Deputy CLP Leader, Assam Assembly), Gaurav Gogoi (MP), Sushmita Deb (President, All India Mahila Congress Committee) and Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha (MLA). The committee has been asked to submit a detailed report to the party's interim President Sonia Gandhi thereafter.

Cong forms 7-member committee to assess situation

While speaking over the matter, Congress leader Sushmita Dev said, "What has transpired at the Assam and Mizoram border happens to be in my constituency in the district of Cachar. This has been going on for a while. A few months back it happened, but no resolution was found out for the dispute of land between Assam and Mizoram. It has become extremely serious."

"Northeast Democratic Alliance was formed by the Bhartiya Janta Party and the CM of Assam is its convenor. But it seems that the alliance is only formed to win elections. It is not been able to solve this matter. The most unfortunate thing is that the Home Minister came to Assam, all the CMs were there, but this issue didn't get resolved," she further asserted. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also slammed HM Amit Shah, by tweeting, "HM has failed the country yet again by sowing hatred and distrust into the lives of people. India is now reaping its dreadful consequences."

Meanwhile, A-day after a violent border clash between Assam and Mizoram took the lives of six Assam police personnel, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday put State and Central government responsible for the incident. Demanding a high-level inquiry, Gogoi also asked Home Minister Amit Shah to resign "taking moral responsibility for the incident". "Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have failed miserably. The incident took place a day after the Home Minister came from the two-day-long visit to the northeastern states," said Gogoi in an exclusive interview to ETV Bharatin New Delhi.

He said that the incident did not take place in one single day. "Border tension was there between the two states. In fact, a Home Ministry level talk with the Chief Secretaries of both Assam and Mizoram also failed to yield any result. The face to face meeting with the Chief Ministers of both the States along with Home Minister Amit Shah has also failed to bring any positive result," said Gogoi and added, "the incident shows that the central government is not interested in bringing peace and development in the region".

Gogoi has submitted a letter to Home Minister Shah demanding a high-level inquiry. He has also called for an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha over the incident earlier in the day. Gogoi vehemently criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and said that being the convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), he (Sarma) failed to bring unity among all NDA partners.

Gogoi said that instead of safeguarding people, the BJP government can snoop into the privacy of the individuals. "The Home Ministry is busy snooping through mobile phones. And the present Home Minister has forgotten his duties. He can only take photoshoots from different locations," said Gogoi.

Another Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi echoed the same and said that the incidents show "India is witnessing a war inside the country." "It's a war within India. The BJP government both at the Centre and States have failed miserably to control the situation," he said. Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry said that it is closely monitoring the Assam-Mizoram border situation. "The situation is under control and more CRPF troops have been deployed to keep a check on both sides,” the home ministry said.