Ggogoi pursues B'deshis' extradition treaty with PM

Guwahati, Aug 26 (UNI) The urgent requirement of a treaty for smooth deportation of detected Bangladeshis and immediate sealing of Indo-Bangla border were the highlights of a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Reiterating the Assam government's commitment in implementing the Assam Accord, the Chief Minister urged Dr Singh to go in for Punjab type fencing on the Assam-Bangladesh border, roads along the border and setting up of more BoPs reducing the inter-BoP distance.

Expressing gratitude for strengthening of the Border Security Force, the state government requested that the Centre agrees to the proposal for riverine police battalions.

The Prime Minister was pressed for taking up the matter of deportation with Bangladesh so that the declared foreigners can be smoothly deported as agreed during the tripartite meeting between the Centre, Assam Government and All Assam Students' Union on May 5, 2005.

The state government also submitted a proposal for the amendment of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, which needs to be approved immediately and actual work on updating of NRC can be started.

The chief minister also thanked the Prime Minister for agreeing to the proposed bridge over river Brahmaputra to provide a bypass to the Kaziranga National Park as well as retaining the funding pattern of externally aided project on 90:10 basis for Special Category States.

Drawing the PM's attention to the flood and erosion problem, Mr Gogoi urged for financial support from the Central government for rehabilitation of effected people.

Dr Singh's intervention was also sought for the early implementation of recommendations of a high-level empowered committee to examine the problem of erosion and suggest measures to contain it.

While apprising the Prime Minister of the various initiatives taken by the state government in the field of education, Mr Gogoi requested him for more assistance for their proper implementation.

The chief minister also drew the attention of Dr Singh to other issues of the state, including urban and rural development, autonomous council development, especially for various tribal and indigenous bodies, special tea development package, petroleum sector industries.

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