IMDT Act resolution enthuses APCC

NEW DELHI, March 19: An upbeat Assam Congress today dismissed the possibility of consolidation of minority votes in favour of the ruling alliance following indications of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) joining hands. The Assam Congress elated by the AICC political resolutions adopted at the party's just-concluded plenary session at Bangalore, concerning the Northeast, claimed they would make SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav bite the dust in Assam on the issues concerning the minorities. "We will remind the people that the messiah of the minorities was the Defence Minister in the United Front Government, which announced the decision to repeal the IMDT Act," Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, Tarun Gogoi said. The new found confidence of the Assam Congress emanated from the "highly inspiring "political resolution that reiterating its stand on the controversy act said the Congress would never allow the IMDT Act to be withdrawn or repealed by the Parliament. But will, as in the past, ensure that foreigners who have illegally entered the State are detected and deported in accordance with the provisions of the Assam Accord. Gogoi, addressing a press conference here today claimed that it was for the first time that the AICC plenary session touched on many issues concerning the region. The AICC, apparently with an eye on the Assam Assembly election, touched on whole range of issues ranging from AGP's misrule in Assam, insurgency and foreigners, flood problems to economic development of the region as a whole. "For the first time-ever, AICC resolution has spoken about developing Barak Valley," claimed Santosh Mohan Dev, adding that the resolution has promised equitable treatment to the valley. Meanwhile, Gogoi said they do not foresee swinging of minority votes to SP-AGP alliance, as the minority communities are wise enough to see through the design of the ruling combine. The APCC president, replying to a question however dismissed reports that he was under pressure to allot at least 45 seats to the powerful minority lobby within the party. All candidates would be nominated on merit basis. Meanwhile, Gogoi conceding that the illegal infiltration problem was a major issue facing the State, said they would advocate measures like issue of identity cards, compulsory registration of birth and deaths and sealing of the Indo-Bangladesh border among others to tackle the problem. The Congress party would also ask the Centre to draw up a comprehensive policy to tackle the problem. On the issue of militancy, the AICC supported the proposal to declare a unilateral ceasefire in the Northeast along the lines of Jammu and Kashmir. Gogoi also termed AGP's allegation about ULFA-Congress nexus as mischievous, wondering what was holding back the ruling party from stopping it. "The Assam Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta claimed that 80 per cent of ULFA cadres have surrendered. If that be the case then what makes him think that the Congress would be fool enough to take help of such an organisation which has no mass support," charged Gogoi.