Tarun Gogoi says he is on radar of jihadi elements

Guwahati, Nov 2: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday said he, the state secretariat and famous Kamakhya temple were targets of jihadi elements operating in the state.

"There is a jihadi threat in the state. I am not saying that I am not in their target list. I am there. So are the state secretariat, other offices and Kamakhya temple," he told reporters while responding to their queries during a cleanliness drive at the Shakti temple atop Nilachal Hill.

"We have handed over cases related to jihadi activities in the state to the best agency National Investigation Agency (NIA). Security is there at the secretariat and Kamakhya temple but it has to be intensified," Gogoi said.

The Assam government will hand over cases related to jihadi activities in the state to NIA as decided at a law and order review meeting convened by Gogoi here yesterday so that the cases could be probed thoroughly as they have international ramifications.

At the meeting Gogoi had directed that all steps should be taken against anti-national activities 'to foil the sinister designs of anti-national elements'.

"We will not compromise on national security and national integrity," he had said. Gogoi, who swept the temple premises with a broom, said the cleanliness drive scheme was being intensified as thousands of pilgrims come to it. "All religions teach us to be clean. So all religious places should be kept clean".

"Cleanliness always played a very important role in the religious system in our state. When prasad is distributed in the Namghars (prayer halls) among the faithful, the servers always tie a cloth around their mouth.

"We keep our homes clean but throw things outside. This gives rise to health issues. Programmes for cleanliness exist but now they need to be intensified," Gogoi added.

Dissident leader and former health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also took part in the cleanliness drive with Gogoi, urged the chief minister to provide clean drinking water and a clean environment for all.

PTI