Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President and Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi has strongly objected to a controversial decision of the Assam government. Gogoi said on social media that the decision to give weapons to people living in the border areas of the state is completely wrong. He says that the people of Assam should get jobs, affordable health facilities and better education and not weapons. He describes this decision as distributing weapons to BJP and RSS supporters and local criminals, which can create a gang war-like situation in the state. Gaurav Gogoi says that this will only increase jungle raj and lack of law and order, and this decision has been taken for electoral gains and not for the safety of the people.
Questions on Gaurav Gogoi’s argument and government’s decision
Gogoi said that instead of strengthening the police and border security forces, the Assam government is distributing weapons to the common people. This will increase crime due to personal enmity and local businessmen will also suffer. He also says that this is not the right governance policy of the government but a dangerous step which will lead the state towards unrest. He has demanded from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma to immediately withdraw this decision and show such leadership that can win the trust of the people. These words of Gaurav Gogoi are coming out as a strong voice against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma in Assam politics.
Why did the Assam government decide to distribute weapons?
At the same time, the Assam government says that this decision has been taken for the safety of the local people. The government has decided to give arms licenses to tribals and local people living in remote and sensitive areas of the state so that they can protect their caste, motherland and family. According to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, tribals living in districts like Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon, South Salmara-Mankachar and Gopalpura are minorities and they are feeling insecure due to increasing violence in neighboring country Bangladesh. Therefore, this decision has been taken keeping in mind their safety.
Border dispute and Chief Minister’s stand
Himanta Biswa Sharma said that this demand was going on since the time of Assam Movement, but no government had the courage to take this decision. He says that if the previous governments could give weapons to the local people, then people would not have sold their land and migrated. He also said that while giving arms licenses, the District Magistrate will not give licenses to criminals or suspicious people. Assam’s border areas are disputed with Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Although efforts are on to resolve the matter, no permanent solution has been found yet. In July 2021, seven people were killed in firing on the Mizoram-Assam border. In this context also, this decision to distribute weapons has been taken in view of security.
