RailEnquiry

GUWAHATI: Karnataka deputy chief minister, R Ashoka, who is also in charge of home affairs, appealed to the students of the Northeast on Thursday not to leave Bangalore and assured them the government would provide 100 per cent protection to them. Speaking at a press conference organized by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he stressed that Bangalore is the safest place for the students from the Northeast."They are our brothers and sisters and it is our duty to give them security. I assure you my government will provide 100 per cent protection," said Ashoka. He said Bangalore deputy commissioner of police (intelligence), Vincent S D'Souza, has been appointed nodal officer and that sufficient police have been posted. "Bangalore is their home. I personally went to the railway station to persuade the students not to leave Bangalore," he added.RSS joint general secretary, Dattatreya Hosabale, said their volunteers have also been mobilized to ensure the safety of students in states, which have seen an exodus of people after violence erupted in the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) in Assam. "Our volunteers will also be present at railway stations to ensure the students are well looked after," said Hosable.Hosabale blamed the influx from Bangladesh for the violence. "Vote bank politics has created this volatile situation. Today infiltration has become a threat to the security of the nation," he added.

Mahanta expresses concern: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president and former chief minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, said assault and threats to students and employees of other states are a threat to the unity and integrity of the country. Demanding urgent measures to protect the lives of the students and workers from Assam living outside the state, he said the AGP will stage a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan on Saturday.

"AGP condemns incidents of attack and threat to students and people outside the state, especially in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka," said Mahanta.

Mahanta criticized those trying to give a communal colour to the violence in BTC. The former chief minister blamed the state government for Thursday's violence in Baksa district and Udiana under the Rangia constituency. "The state government failed to learn a lesson from the recent clashes in BTAD."

Mahanta, who led a six-year anti-foreigner agitation in Assam, also hit out at the Centre for the non-implementation of the Assam accord after 27 years of its signing. An AGP delegation will go to Delhi on August 21 to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar. The delegation will meet the various heads of the government and the chief election commissioner.