GUWAHATI, Dec 5: Defence Minister George Fernanades today stated that Pakistani ISI in collusion with the banned ULFA was trying to fish in the opportunity provided by anti-Bihari violence in Assam. Talking to newsmen at the Army base in Narengi here, Fernandes said, ?Although it was not the ISI which stoked the fire of anti-Bihari attacks in Assam, it is definitely trying to fan the fire in collusion with the banned ULFA.?
Earlier, the Defence Minister visited victims of anti-Bihari violence in Tinsukia civil hospitals and in relief camps in Doom Dooma. He was also briefed by Brigadier A K Gulati at the headquarters of 181 Mountain Brigade on the current situation prevailing in the area and assistance provided by the Army to maintain law and order in the violence-affected areas of Upper Assam. The Defence Minister had discussions with the Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi later in the day on the situation in the State.
When asked whether he was satisfied with the effort made by Assam government to control the situation, George said, ?It is not time to play the blame game. All including the media should work hand-in-hand to control the violence.? He lauded the role played by NGOs and students and Youth organisations in Assam to restore peace in the violence-hit State. Official sources informed that Chief Minister while apprising the Defence Minister of the steps taken by the State government to restore normalcy in the State urged the later to ensure sending of additional paramilitary force to the State to provide more teeth to the anti-insurgency operations here.
The Defence Minister was told that it was the banned ULFA which carried out killings of most of Bihari persons in the State in the recent spurt in violence. Further, Gogoi requested the Defence Minister for special financial assistance to the State government to rehabilitate victims of violence. Fernandes was informed that the State government would provide adequate security to those Bihari people who have fled the State, in case they decide to come back to resume their normal activity here.
Gogoi claimed that due to massive confidence building measures taken by the government and people, majority of violence affected Bihari people have returned to their homes from relief camps. The Defence Minister during the discussion suggested that for normalising the relations between the people of Assam and Bihar, students? delegations from both the States should visit each other on goodwill missions.