Gogoi in spot over refugee status issue

Mar 11, 2011 - MANOJ ANAND |

Age Correspondent

GUWAHATI

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s remark on granting refugee status to Hindu-Bengali migrants has created a major controversy in the state with the Opposition BJP, AGP and AIUDF criticising the Congress of playing politics on “sensitive and emotional” issues.

The BJP, however, dared the Assam chief minister to bring in a bill in Parliament or pass an ordinance to accord “refugee” status to Hindu-Bengali who fled because of prosecution in the erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
“If Mr Gogoi is genuinely concerned, his party should bring in a bill in Parliament, we are ready to support it,” said P. Chandrashekharm, secretary, Northeast BJP, adding that it was an election gimmick of the ruling Congress party in the run up to the elections in Assam. He said that the CM’s remark betrays the fact that the Congress party is insecure over losing the upcoming elections.
The AIUDF on Wednesday accused Mr Gogoi of making the statement without understanding the legal implication of it.

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