Assam Government Slams ‘Shutdown’ Plan Next Month

The Assam state government on Wednesday had taken a decision to ban all shutdowns as ‘illegal’ for next one month, officials said.

Assam Agriculture minister and spokeperson of the state government Nilamoni Sen Deka said in Guwahati the decision was taken in accordance with the Gauhati High Court order on January 2010.

The state government decision was taken followed by the violence in Assam on August 28 during the statewide shutdown called by All Assam Muslim Students Union (AAMSU), in which at least three people were killed and 35 others injured including sribes, police personnel.

The bandh supporters attacked several vehicles and burned 25 houses in several places.

Meanwhile, several organizations including BJP, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Assam Public works (APW) demanded from the government to ban AAMSU and condemn attack on scribes by bandh supporters.

During a press conference held in Guwahati on Wednesday, the BJP MP Bijoya Chakrawarty said the state government has totally failed to prevent violence in BTAD and restored peace.

“There is no reason that the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has to take charge as CM and home department,” the BJP MP said.

Meanwhile, the president of AJYCP Manoj Baruah said the violence was totally pre-planed.

Apart from the state based organizations demand, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on Wednesday demanded for update from NRC of Assam within two years.

Hemanta Kumar Nath

Hemanta Kumar Nath is a correspondent in Assam, India, who reports on local news in Assam, the north east Indian state.