AGP criticise Cong for Bangladesh encroachment

Guwahati, Aug 3: Encroachment of about 500 acre of Asom land by Bangladesh has emerged as a major issue in the state politics with both AGP and BJP accusing the ruling Congress of creating the mess.

Addressing newsmen here today, AGP general secretary Chandra Mohan Patowary said the AGP has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while the BJP accused the state government of ''misleading'' the House.

Asom government had told the Assembly that 499 acres of land had been encroached by Bangladesh.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, however, told Parliament that the land was not encroached but in ''advance possession'' of Bangladesh.

The Asom Government also did an immediate volte face and Mr Gogoi in New Delhi contradicted the statement of his own Revenue Minister.

But this had not gone well with the Opposition parties.

'' We shall go by the statement made by the Government in the state Assembly and according to them 500 acre was encroached by Bangladesh. This is a shame. The Congress government has no right to stay in power when they cannot protect its own land from Bangladesh, '' Mr Patowary alleged.

BJP president Indromoni Bora said the Congress was ''misleading'' the people of Asom. '' Inside the Assembly they are saying there is encroachment and outside they are denying it. This is farce and shame on the people of Asom, '' he said adding Bangladesh after sending millions of Bangladeshis to India was now trying to encroach upon India's land also.

The AGP was sending a delegation to border for an on the spot study of the situation and has also urged the state government to do so, he added.

'' It is unfortunate that the Centre has always been attaching more importance to the western boundary, while the threat perception is more in the eastern boundary, '' said Mr Patowary.

He demanded that the Centre should take up the matter with Bangladesh and settle the matter at the earliest and erect barbed fence.

'' I can understand there are 5000 acre of disputed land between the two countries. These are disputed and fencing can be done after settlement. But here we are talking of encroachment and there is no question of any compromise, '' he said.

UNI