Advocates on the promotion of culture and sporting events among people.
By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Monday that as the potential for sporadic outbreaks of ethnic tension remains, the deployment of Central forces should continue for some more time in the state as he spoke on the 16th meeting of National Integration Council at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
The Chief Minister also cautioned that there is always a threat from the forces inimical to India taking shelter in neighbouring countries and engaging in terrorist activities.
“There are also certain elements in the society who always try to create rift amongst communities on ethnic and religious lines. The State Government is vigilant towards such activities and will deal with them firmly. However, continued support would be required from the Central Government in our efforts to counter such elements and their nefarious designs in Assam,” the Chief Minister said.
Gogoi said firm and effective action taken by the State Government has been able to contain ethnic clashes periodically over the past three decades. “Due to firm action of the Government – deployment of Central Armed Police Forces, calling out army, and firm action against all trouble-mongers, handing over cases to CBI for investigation – the situation could be contained promptly in BTAD areas,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the Government has been taking various steps to formulate a proper and comprehensive response to civil disturbances that include training and capacity building of the personnel for handling such problems, strengthening intelligence, equipping them with adequate skills with special emphasis on use of non-lethal weapons and training in negotiation and communication skills of police personnel.
“Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) have been developed for tackling civil disturbances effectively. Equally important is proper liaison with the enlightened citizens and well meaning social mediators with established civil credentials. We are convinced that as a long term solution a more extensive civil police presence is necessitated in areas prone to ethnic violence. This will enable closer police-community contact that can address minor issues before these flare up,” he said.
The Community Liaison Groups and Nagarik Committees play a significant role in assessing and controlling the civil disturbances. I have always emphasised to my officers that while dealing with such situations they should proactively try to understand the genuineness of the grievances and redress them immediately,” he added.
It can be mentioned that the state has saw number of ethnic clashes during the last three decades with hundreds of innocent people becoming a victim and others remained a living witness to these horror tales.
Gogoi advocated the promotion of the culture of games and sports amongst the youth and exposing them to the tenets of all religions and faith through curricular instructions as effective tools in fostering respect for humankind and brotherhood.
