NEW DELHI, Dec 16 ? The Centre is likely to toughen it stand on tackling militancy, with Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil today hinting that the Central Government was mulling a Unified Command for all the north-eastern States. The possible hardening of the stand against ULFA may come in the wake of the UPA Government coming increasingly under attack of the Opposition for the manner of handling the situation in the State.
In the Lok Sabha, for instance, BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi of Bihar criticising the Centre?s handling of the situation said that it should not agree to talk with ULFA until they abjure violence. Joining him Dr Arun Kumar Sarma said that the flush-out operations should be mounted against the outfit in neighbouring countries.
The issue of talks with ULFA figured in both the Houses of the Parliament today with Members expressing concern at the spate of bomb blasts in the State during the past few days. Moving a Zero hour notice, Dr Sarma demanded dismissal of Assam Government because of the State Government?s admission of failure to control the situation in the State.
In the Rajya Sabha, replying to a debate on internal security initiated by the BJP MP, Arun Shourie, this afternoon, the Union Home Minister said that several security experts have suggested Unified Command for the north-eastern States, adding that Nagaland would be the next State in the region to introduce Unified Command. The security system so far exists in Assam and Manipur.
The Home Minister?s statement assumes significance because recently the DONER Ministry, had talked of plans to make operational the North Eastern Council (NEC) which has so far remained defunct. ?If the NEC makes suggestions having a bearing on the security of the region, they are carefully considered for necessary action,? the Home Minister said.
Significantly the Home Minister admitted that the Myanmar Government has started operations against the North-east-based militants. ?The attitude of Bangladesh Government is positive but not convincing and more have to be done by them,? Sri Patil said reacting to the member?s concern over existence of camps in neighbouring countries.
The Home Ministry is constantly reviewing the security situation at various levels. It has been decided to deploy more companies of security forces and Central para-military forces in Assam. Increased visibility of security forces in the affected areas has also been organised to give confidence to the people, Patil told the Rajya Sabha.
Reacting to the concern expressed by the Members?, Sri Patil assured that the Government of India would not lower guard and that every moment it was doing its duty. ?We have been saying that if you come with guns and bullets nobody can achieve anything but if you want to achieve anything you have to come to the table for talks,? he asserted.
As for the initiative taken by the Centre for the region, Patil said that the Government of India was building an international highway that would go to Myanmar while the Railway would reach Imphal. He also mentioned about taking over educational institutions besides establishing institutions to protect the cultural heritage of the region.
Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, the AGP MP attacking the ruling Congress Party in Assam, alleged that two ministers of Gogoi Cabinet were involved with the ULFA. However, even before he could say anything more, Kirip Chaliha shouted him down arguing that nobody should politicise the issue. Speaker Somnath Chatterjee also intervened and asked Dr Sarma not to mention any names.
Continuing his tirade, the AGP MP said that the Government of Assam has failed to tackle the law and order situation and therefore the State Government should resign. ?The Government of Assam agreed that they had failed in their duty to maintain the law and order situation. The situation has deteriorated day by day,? he alleged.
Since June, over 50 bomb blasts have rocked Assam taking a large number of lives, and the people are in panic. Very recently there were blasts in Nagaon, Morigaon, Guwahati, Tinsukia, Chabua and Doomdooma, he said.
When the Central Government had taken the initiative of holding a dialogue with the militant outfits, the people of Assam harboured expectations. Fresh efforts should, once again, be made by the Government of India to persuade the militant outfits to come to the negotiating table.
Condemning the recent bomb blasts, Dr Sarma said that insurgency situation in the North-east has international ramifications. The situation could be brought under control by tackling militant camps in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan and in other parts of the world through which a large number of arms and drugs are coming into the region. The North Eastern Region (NER) has become a dumping ground of discarded arms coming from various countries, he claimed.
Earlier, Sushil Kumar Modi advocating tough actions on ULFA said that the flush-out operations should be launched against their camps located in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Although Prof Indira Goswami has taken the initiative to bring them to negotiations, they have refused to give up violence.
ULFA chief Paresh Baruah has also refused to come for talks, he added. The BJP MP from Bihar also drew the attention of the House to the recent spate of blasts saying that State Minister Rameshwar Dhanowar?s house was also attacked besides the Congress office in Tinsukia. He charged that the ULFA has links with ISI of Pakistan.