The Hindu : Gogoi warns BJP leaders against provocative speeches

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 04, 2003

Other States

Other States - Assam

Gogoi warns BJP leaders against provocative speeches

By Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI April 3. The Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, today warned the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders against spreading communal poison in the State by making provocative speeches.

The BJP Jana Jagaran Jatras from various parts of the State will culminate in a central rally here on April 7. It will be addressed, among others, by the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

Asked what his Government would do if Mr. Modi and leaders such as Pravin Togadia delivered inflammatory speeches at the rally, Mr. Gogoi said the law would take its own course. ``Nobody is above the law.''

Mr. Gogoi accused the BJP of trying to divide the Assamese society on religious lines by organising the Jatras. `

`They want to apply the Gujarat line here with an eye on the next year's Lok Sabha elections.'' But they had failed to ``hoodwink'' the people, as was evident from the very poor public response the Jatras had evoked, he added.

He said the ostensible purpose of the Jatras was to mobilise public opinion against the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, illegal influx from Bangladesh and activities of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

He said the BJP was actually indicting its own Government because it was the Centre's responsibility to repeal the IM(DT) Act, stop infiltration and curb the ISI's activities.

He reiterated that the Congress was against scrapping the Act.

Regarding the possibility of talks with ULFA, Mr. Gogoi said ``in the long run'' its leaders would have to come forward for talks for a settlement on the lines of the Mizo accord.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

Gogoi warns BJP leaders against provocative speeches

23 tribals killed in Assam