Guwahati: Although the BJP-led government in Assam is upbeat about the cabinet decision to grant arms licences to indigenous people or original inhabitants in vulnerable areas of the state, the decision has irked opposition parties in Assam.
The cabinet decision taken recently stated that the government would grant arms licences to those indigenous people and original inhabitants of the state who have become a minority in their own land and have been living under the threat of attack and aggression.
Although the government justified it by saying that it has been a long standing demand from the people of Assam, the decision has drawn sharp reactions from various sections.
While the opposition Congress has termed the decision as ‘insensitive’ and urged the Chief Minister to review it, other political parties such as the Left and other regional parties have also expressed their strong reactions.
“The decision to grant arms licence to original inhabitants clearly indicates the failure of the state government to ensure law and order. This is going to be a major problem once the decision is implemented. How can the government arm one community against another? Does the Chief Minister want to say that the police have failed to do their job in Assam?” questioned leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Debabrata Saikia.
“This move will lead to gun culture in Assam and incite people to take up violence,” said senior Congress leader Bhupen Borah while calling the government move as reckless.
Newly appointed Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi has also opposed the move, saying that it will led to lawlessness and jungle raj in the state.
“Instead of strengthening police and the border force, the government is bent on distributing arms among the BJP-RSS sympathisers and local criminal syndicate,” said Gogoi on his X handle.
Regional political party Asom Jatuya Parishad (AJP), expressing concern over the development, said that it will lead to communal disharmony and divide the communities further. “It is unfortunate that the government has failed to protect the indigenous people,” said senior AJP leader Jagadish Bhuyan.
CPI(M) leader and Assam MLA Manoranjan Talukdar termed this decision as shocking and said that due to the statements of Chief Minister, the religious minority in Assam is more insecure now. “The decision to arm civilians will divide the society,” he said.
