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Discussion Regarding Situation Arising Out Of Bomb Blasts In Various Parts Of ... on 15 December, 2008

> Title:Discussion regarding situation arising out of bomb blasts in various parts of North-Eastern States with particular reference to Assam.

 

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Now, we will take up Item No. 24, namely, discussion under Rule 193. I would request Shri S. K. Bwiswmuthiary to start the discussion.

* SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY (KOKRAJHAR) :Hon. Deputy Speaker Sir, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to initiate in the discussion under 193, relating to the incidents of serial bomb blasts that took place in Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Borpeta Road and in some places within Guwahati in Assam on 30th October,2008.  It pains me to speak about the gory incident of  serial bomb blasts.  I condemn this dastardly act of violence in which eighty seven innocent people lost their lives, while more than five hundred people were seriously injured.  A serial bomb blast of such a magnitude has not happened any where else in the country before.

          The blast at Kokrajhar town’s vegetable market took place at 17.25 AM followed by the blast at fish market at 11.28 AM and the third blast took place in the northern part of the town near railway station at 11.26 AM. In these horrific incidents of bomb explosions twenty people lost their lives and one hundred and sixty four people were  injured.  Another blast  took  place at  Khubchand  Chowk which is  also  known  as * English Translation of the Speech originally delivered in Assamese.

Kamarpatty at 11.28 AM followed by a power full explosion at 11.30 AM, in Ganeshguri area of Guwahati. Around 11.27 AM, the blast near the District Magistrates Court in Guwahati took place.  Altogether, in these diabolical incidents of serial bomb blasts eighty seven people lost their lives and more than five hundred people were crippled for life.  Now the vital question is how could such dastardly acts of killing of innocent people happen?  The people of Assam are surprised as to what the police force was doing.  Did they have any prior information that such incidents might take place?  I would like to state that the present Chief Minister of Assam Mr. Tarun Gogoi while talking to the journalists on 2nd November had stated that the cops had information on the blast but failed to act on it due to lack of coordination.

          According to the information which we have gathered now, the Intelligence Bureau of the Central Government have had imputs of possible blasts and the GOC, 4 corps, Lt. General Mr.B.S.Jaiswal also while briefing the Prime Minister during his visit to Assam on 1st November stated that “Army had received information from one of its sister intelligence agencies, of possible blasts. We had only received and not intercepted any message.” If the Central Intelligence agencies, Indian army and the SSB had provided prior information to Assam police, then why didn’t they act upon it?  Their inaction has led to the lose of several lives.

          According to the investigating team of National Security Guards,  Amonia nitrate, T&T P&TN and RDX were used. According to the NSG investigating team six kg. Of RDX explosives were used in the three blasts that rocked Kokrajhar town.  Another six kg. RDX was used in Bongaigaon blast.  In Barpeta road the amount of RDX used was 2 kg.  In Ganeshguri and in the blast near Kamrup district Magistrate’s Office 3 kg. Of RDX were used for each blast.  About one hundred and sixty eight vehicles were damaged and property worth five hundred crore rupees were destroyed.  Let me mention, that a muslim fundamentalist organization - Islamic Security Force – Indian Mujahideen sent an SMS to a news Channel ‘News Live’ owning responsibility for the blasts.  But unfortunately, the Government has not been able to trace out the owner of that mobile phone from which the SMS was sent.  Assam Government has been saying it repeatedly that in these incidents of bomb blasts, Pakistan and Bangladesh sponsored Jehadis and terrorist outfits are involved.  We urge upon the Government to punish the culprits involved in these incidents.  I also demand a CBI enquiry.  Following the resolution adopted in an all party meeting held on 12th November in Guwahati, the Assam Chief Minister has decided to request the Central Government to institute a CBI inquiry into these incidents. You must be aware that various intelligence agencies of the Government revealed that ISI and some Jehadis were involved in these incidents, the official spokesman of the Bangladesh Government refuted the claim.  But we know the truth.  In the recent Mumbai terror attack on 26th November, ten Pakistan trained militants were involved.  But surprisingly, the Government of Pakistan is denying involvement of any Pakistani national in this attack.  Recently, the visiting Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. Gordon Brown while talking to our Prime Minister said, “We know that the group responsible for Mumbai attack is LeT. And they have a great deal to answer for.” This is the brilliant statement made by the British Prime Minister Mr.Gordon Brown. While  in Pakistan, Mr. Brown also told the Pakistani President Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, “It was time for action, not words”. This was a brilliant statement made by the British Prime Minister in front of Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan.  In the same way, the US senator and the Chairman of Foreign Relations committee, Mr. John Kerry, who visited Delhi recently said, “They formed the LeT. The ISI has to be reformed . There are people in official position in Pakistan who are aware of the Government’s relation with LeT.” If the Government of Pakistan can deny the involvement of any Pakistan trained militants in the Mumbai terror attack, then why Bangladesh Government can not deny the role of Bangladeshi Jehadis in Assam blast? Now it is the responsibility of our Government to find out the truth as to who are the real culprits and the Government must punish the perpetrators of such ghastly acts.  It is very unfortunate that such incidents are   repeatedly happening in our country.  On the 3rd and 4th of November Jehadi elements attacked some Bodo villages in Udalguri and Darrang districts of Assam. They not only burnt down houses of Bodo people, but also hoisted Pakistani flags at several places in these two districts.  Pakistani flags were hoisted in four villages in Udalguri districts on the 3rd and 4th of October.  The names of the Bodo villages where Pakistani flags were hoisted are Rangagarah, Sonaripara, Sumliguri and Sapmari.  Being a patriotic Indian we are shocked and pained to see such incidents happening in our country. We are much surprised to see that despite occurrence of such incidents, Government didn’t react the way it should have reacted. It is all the more unfortunate that some officials are saying that the flags were not Pakistani flags. According to them, the flags hoisted were of Id festival.  Be it a Pakistani flag or flag of Id, the Government should have instituted a thorough inquiry into the incident.  But this was not done.  Today, I demand a CBI probe to find out the truth.  I also appeal to the Government to order a CBI inquiry into the incidents that had taken place in Udalguri and Darrang districts.

MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER : Please conclude now.

SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY : Why such incidents are happening in Assam? It is only because of the utter failure on the part of the Government of India and the successive Assam Governments to check infiltration of lakhs of illegal Bangladeshi migrants that such incident are happening.  Today, our indigenous Bodo and other ethnic groups of people of the state are on the verge of losing their identity and their safety and security and also their survival and existence as well as threatened to a great extent.  

          Therefore, I would like to demand a CBI probe to inquire into the serial blasts that took place in various parts of our state and those responsible should be brought to book immediately.  Secondly, Sir, I would like to request for an ex-gratia payment of Rs.10 lakh to the families of the victims. The Government of Assam has already paid Rs.3lakh each to the bereaved families of the victims.  Whereas the announcement made by the Hon. Prime Minister to give a compensation of Rs.1lakh each for the families of the victims is yet to be fulfilled.  Hon. Home Minister had also promised to give a compensation of Rs.3 lakh to the victims.  But he also has failed to keep his promise.  I would like to also demand that the Government of Bodoland should be vested with the power of maintaining law and order.  The Bodoland Government should also be empowered to raise Bodoland Territorial Police Battalion.  The Govt. should create a separate Police Commissionerate for Bodoland to deal with the Law and Order within Bodoland, i.e. Government should also take steps to detect and deport the illegal Bangladeshi migrants. However, extreme care should be taken so that in the name of detecting foreigners, no genuine Indian citizen is harassed.  Steps should also be taken to raise new battalions of National Security Guards and Anti-Terrorist Squad which may be stationed in all the states.  It is a matter of serious concern that in Assam the total strength of police personnel is only 65,630.  More than 8000 posts are still lying vacant.  Presently, we have only 57,190 police personnel in our state.    That is why sir, I would like to demand for recruiting at least one lakh constables in our State at the earliest possible.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER :  Thank you.

SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY : Government should take necessary steps for modernization of our police force and intelligence network. There should be a separate police intelligence agency for all the states of the N.E.region. At the end, I would like to appeal to the Government to take strong measures so that such dastardly acts of violence do not take place in our country in future.  We should never compromise with any of the anti-India forces. Our Government should protect the lives of our people, particularly the Bodo people.

   

[R27]  MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker, on behalf of my colleague, I would like to make a request. I have a long list of Members who want to participate in this discussion.  Hon. Minister has to go to some meeting.  I would request the Members to be brief so that I am able to complete the discussion before 1730 hours.

          I would now call Shri Adhir Chowdhury and request him to be brief. I do not think I would need to repeat this.

SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY (BERHAMPORE, WEST BENGAL): Sir, I rise to participate in the Discussion Under Rule 193 on terrorism in the North-Eastern region with special reference to Assam.  Hon. Member, Shri Bwismuthiary has initiated the debate on this issue. We are well aware that terrorism has become a menace for the democratic country of India.

A few days ago, not only the people of India but the world got benumbed, surprised and pained by the depredation of the terrorists in the commercial Capital of Mumbai.[R28]  Already the entire country has been agitating over the terrorist activities and has also participated in the discussion on how to deal with this menace.  So already the entire country has been participating in the debate in relation to the terrorism in our country.  We all hope that the Home Minister who has taken the charge of this sensitive Ministry will strike a great blow to the terrorist activities in India.

          Since the day of freedom, the Indian people are witnessing the spectre of insurgency, terrorism, extremism and so on, especially in the North-Eastern region which is geographically strategic to our country has been witnessing insurgency since partition.  The national Government has been persuading the carrot and stick policy to tame the insurgent activities in the North-Eastern region.  Therefore, we have made Mizoram Peace Accord.   We have succeeded in accomplishing Assam Accord and Bodo Accord.   However, if we observe the entire North-Eastern region, we will find that barring Mizoram, all the North-Eastern States have been under constant terrorist threat. 

After the partition, the entire North-Eastern region has been rendered in a land-locked region of our country.  Around 98 per cent of our North-Eastern region is bordering the countries, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar etc. and  only two per cent land of the North-Eastern region is linked to the mainland. India which is only 27 kilometres wide.  It is in Siliguri.  I would like to draw the attention of the Home Minister that in view of the objectives of our hostile neighbours, we should be very careful in protecting the chicken neck, that is called Siliguri corridor because if the Siliguri corridor is snapped of, then the entire North-Eastern region will be dislocated and isolated from the mainland, India.   That is the objective of our hostile neighbour.  So the terrorist activities in the North-Eastern region should not be viewed in isolation.  Rather the entire North-Eastern region including the northern part of West Bengal should be taken cognizance of before formulating any long term measure. 

Sir, it is true that this Government has been pouring in huge sums to the North-Eastern region for the development of that area which is called as a rainbow country.[R29]  Already the Shukla Commission has recommended to invest more than Rs.22,000 crore to wipe out the regional imbalance, to generate employment and to bridge the gap which has been existing there between various ethnic communities. North-Eastern region is a very complex and complicated area where ethnic division and communal divide are very much palpable.  To deal with the situation in the North-Eastern region, we should be very careful so that our hostile neighbour cannot reap any dividend from any fault at our end. 

          Sir, it is easy to raise an accusing finger to anybody else but being an Indian we should view the entire episode from our national perspective. We have already had information regarding the security situation in Assam where on 30th October, serial bomb blasts had taken place which took a toll of a number of innocent people who do not have any particular religion because the deceased belonged to Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Bodos, etc.             Insofar as security situation in Assam is concerned, there were 474 incidents resulting in killings of 27 security personnel and 287 civilians. The corresponding figures of 2006 are, 413 incidents – 32 security personnel and 164 civilians killed.  The terrorist incidents have been increasing in Assam and in the entire North-Eastern region which is clear from the account given by the Home Ministry statement earlier also.  In a statement released by the Home Ministry where violence in Jammu and Kashmir and North-Eastern States was compared indicates that  the incidents of the entire North-Eastern region have been numbered more than the incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. 

It is widely believed that the focus of ISI          has been shifting from the western sector of our country to the eastern part of our country and Bangladesh has become a safe heavens and a sanctuary for harbouring the insurgent elements who are based in the North-Eastern region. The entire border is porous and it has become a safe corridor for the insurgents and terrorists.  Even in pursuance to the Mumbai investigations, we have found that the SIM-cards are being collected from the eastern part, from Kolkata also.  So, now border fencing must be pursued vigorously.  Secondly, the intelligence infrastructure should be revamped.  It has been widely acknowledged and accepted by all sections of our people.  I would propose to the hon. Home Minister that he should introduce bare-footed intelligence so that the intelligence from grass-root could be collected because the objective of the terrorists is to destabilise the North-Eastern region.[R30]              It has been witnessing economic growth in the recent past. When the Congress Government took over the reins of power at the Centre at that time this Region was in an economic mess. The Region has been recuperating economically and has woken up from its economic slumber. The objective of the terrorists is to destabilise the economic growth of that particular region. Secondly, I would like to suggest to the Home Ministry that apart from having the intelligence infrastructure in place, I propose that we should pursue an ideological campaign against terrorist activities. It is because India is a country which is known as a country of composite culture. People from all walks of life, the saner elements of the society should be persuaded so that they carry out the ideological campaign against the terrorists who are trying to destabilise and destroy this country.

          Sir, I hope under the leadership of our new Home Minister we will be able to, if not, wipe out, at least diminish the threat of insurgency, terrorism and such other anti-national activities.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I would like to remind the hon. Members that I have a list of more than 23 Members to speak on this subject. Therefore, I would request the hon. Members to be brief.

 SHRI KIREN RIJIJU (ARUNACHAL WEST): Sir, I am happy in a sense that the issue of terrorism in the North Eastern Region has been taken up separately. We were a little agitated when the hon. Home Minister was making a statement on the bomb blasts but ultimately we agreed to have a discussion on this issue today. I would like to thank the Chair for this.

          The hon. Home Minister is having a big challenge before him. At the same time I feel it is an historic opportunity for him that his tenure starts with a common single voice from the Lok Sabha, from all political parties condemning terrorism. This is the right mood for the Home Minister to tackle the challenges posed by terrorism in the country.

          Sir, today we are discussing about bomb blasts in Assam and in other parts of the North Eastern region. Let me, at the outset, make a remark that had it not been for the attack on hotels Oberoi and Taj in Mumbai, this galvanization of the mood of the nation would never have taken place. The attack by terrorists and the bomb blasts in Assam are not isolated cases and have not taken place once or twice. Such incidents in the North Eastern Region are taking place throughout the year, but unfortunately it could neither draw the attention of this House, nor the nation. There have been mention of such incidents, but not at this scale. However, better late than never, we have today taken up this issue today for discussion. I am standing here to support the efforts of the Home Minister to contain terrorism and other insurgent activities in the country, particularly in the North Eastern Region. There have been a series of bomb blasts not only in Guwahati but in places like Udalgiri, Dimapur, Kokrajhar and also in Tripura. There were many instances. I will not go into those incidents and would also not count on the number of people who lost their lives in those incidents. I would only like to discuss the problem and the probable solutions to the problem.

          Sir, we must admit and the Government has admitted that there has been a failure on the part of the Government. There had been inputs from the intelligence agencies prior to the attacks. There had been many more information which the Government could have taken note of to initiate precautionary measures to prevent such incidents. But unfortunately, the Government failed to do so. With the new Home Minister we have a new hope.

          If we were to go to the root of the incident which took place in the North Eastern Region I cannot stop but have to point a finger to Bangladesh. We have been trying to corner Pakistan through diplomatic channels, through our own efforts and through bilateral international means. But I do not think the Government is doing anything to tackle the problem emanating from Bangladesh. It is more complex. [R31]  I would like to quote one report here. Brig. (Retd.) D.P.Sinha who had served the North Eastern Region for many decades has said that ISI had set up camps in Bangladesh to carry out anti-India operations. In one of his books he has mentioned that 200 terrorist training camps from PoK have been shifted to Bangladesh. This is no less a threat. Along with Bangladesh there have been cases of attacks coming from Bhutan, from Myanmar and also there have been reports of involvement of the Chinese territory. We have to take care of all these issues very seriously. Co-ordination with the Ministry of External Affairs is also very important.  It is because we have to have a very concerted effort from all angles to tackle this menace. I would like to point out one instance here.

          One ISI operative was arrested by the Assam police. His name was identified as Alam alias Mujibullah Alam Asfi Alam. He was hailing from Ajampur village under the Utara police station in Dhaka. He has been recognised as an important functionary of the ISI in charge of Assam and the North Eastern Region. These are pointed instances. Let us take the recent case of hoisting of Bangladeshi flag in Assam during the communal violence in Udalgiri. I was very sad when the Government of Assam did try to defend this incident. Rather than going in for an inquiry into this, they started defending it. One source of the Government said that it is not a Pakistani flag; one Minister said that it looked like a Pakistani flag; another said that it is a Pakistani flag and another said that we will see the video footage of the incident. Now, why are people in Government speaking in double voice on such a serious issue? A Pakistani or a Bangladeshi flag being hoisted on Indian soil is a serious issue. Why no action or no inquiry has been initiated on such a serious matter? I fail to understand this. It is a very serious issue. It is a serious lapse. The Government has to instil a sense of confidence in the minds of the people. How can the Government, without the co-operation of the political parties, without the cooperation of the people act on such issue, tackle such a serious issue? The foremost thing is to instil a sense of confidence in the minds of the people. Though some steps could have been taken initially, yet now also it is not too late and I would like to request the Government to act when they receive such reports and information. This is a serious issue.

          Sir, the Bodo people are indigenous people of our territory. They have been segregated; they have been isolated in their own homeland. By whom have they been dislodged? They have been dislodged by the so called illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Today their numbers are very large. One of the former Ministers of State of the Home Ministry made a statement in the Rajya Sabha that so many Bangladeshis today are staying in Assam illegally. But a few days later he withdrew his statement. Why was it so? Under whose pressure did he withdraw that statement? Let the people of this country know it. On the one hand, by making a false statement one is denigrating the status of this august House and on the other, the Government is losing the seriousness of the matter in its nature and character. It is a very serious issue.

          Sir, let us also discuss the incident of blasts in Manipur where 26 people were killed. After the blasts when the Home Minister was asked about his comments on the incident in which a blast exploded near the house of the Chief Minister in Imphal where 26 people were killed, his response was that the Government had instructed the State Government to take action and that Central Government cannot act upon this as it is a law and order problem and it is a State subject.[R32]  It is not a Stat[U33] e issue.  Terrorism is not a State issue.  It is a national issue.   We have to combat terrorism with national perspective in our mind.  If you feel that North East is an isolated territory, I am sorry, you are going to lose it. You are going to pay a heavy price for it in future.  Sir, I cannot afford to accuse that your intention is not a serious one.  I cannot accuse them but the casual approach must be done away. The approach of the Government has never been a serious one.  I am not questioning your intention. You should seem to be taking action.  It should be perceptible and it should be visible. Only talking about action is not enough.

          Sir, as regards the killings of North Indians in Assam and Manipur, I am not even happy about the reaction of the whole House about this issue. Initially, Shri Devendra Prasad Yadav and Shri Ram Kripal Yadav could have put much pressure on the Government on this issue.   It is your coalition Governments in Assam and Manipur.  For a few days, you raised those issues in the House and later on, you have forgotten them.  We have constantly raised this issue as it concerns our country, whether it is in Mumbai or Manipur or Assam.  Why? When Bangladeshis are given shelter, Indians are being threatened and killed. This is a very serious issue. We must fight against them and we must survive as one nation.  

          Sir, let us go to its roots now.  How to tackle this problem?  What is preventing the Government from finishing the job of fencing? If you can complete fencing of the entire mountain area of Jammu and Kashmir in three years, what stops you from completing fencing in the Indo-Bangladesh border for the last so many years since the Assam Accord?   It is more than 20 years now.  What prevents you from completing it?   I was leading a parliamentary delegation to that area and I have myself seen those border areas.  Fencing is there just for name sake.  It does not exist actually. You erect a post here and there. But it does not protect your country.  Let us finish the border fencing on a time bound basis.  Otherwise, you cannot protect our territory.  This must be taken up on priority basis. 

Sir, once again I demand that the Assam Accord must be implemented in toto.   क्यों देर हो रही है? इसमें डिटैक्शन, डिलीशन और डीपोर्टेशन की जो बात है, वह आज तक पूरी नहीं हुई है। नेशनल रजिस्ट्रेशन की बात हमने की है। अपने सिटिज़न्स का रजिस्टर तो कम से कम मेनटेन करें। आज असम की इंडीजिनस पॉपुलेशन बहुत ही घटती जा रही है। मैं इसलिए होम मिनिस्टर साहब से कहना चाहूँगा कि आप जल्दी से जल्दी सारी पोलिटिकल पार्टीज़ के साथ बात करते हुए असम अकॉर्ड को इंप्लीमैंट कराने के लिए कदम उठाएं।

महोदय, आपका इंडिकेशन मुझे मिल रहा है। मैं अपनी बात शॉर्ट कर रहा हूँ।

How to fight terrorism?  Let us modernise our police forces.  Let us modernise our paramilitary forces.  Today, in the North-East, I can tell you न हमारे पास अच्छी गाड़ियां हैं, न अच्छे इंटैलिजैन्स नैटवर्क की फैसिलिटी है। हमारे पुलिस अधिकारी घिसी-पिटी जीप और जिप्सी में घूम रहे हैं।  How can you fight this menace?  Sir, you have been the Finance  Minister. I hope you can convince the hon. Prime Minister in a much better way on how to get better financial allocation and better budgetary provision for strengthening and modernising our police and paramilitary forces.  Then, on the lines of the North-Eastern Council, we can think of having North-East Security Council.  If you feel that the North-East problem has to be tackled in a very coordinated manner taking into account the typical circumstances and situation prevailing there, you can always formulate a North-East Security Council whereby you can make a very concerted effort, have a committed group of officers, commandos and forces to tackle the problems of the North-East separately.  मैं एक पोलिटीशियन हूँ। मुझे इस बात को कहने में कोई हर्ष नहीं है। पोलिटीशियन्स और अल्ट्राज़ के नैक्सस के बारे में क्या किया है? There has been a report and complaint - and even the Army Chief has said - that Manipur Chief Minister had paid Rs. 50 crore to the underground elements. यह मैं नहीं कह रहा हूँ, यह आर्मी चीफ ने कहा है। [h34]    What action has the Government taken?  If politicians – irrespective of their political affiliations – are found to be having any kind of nexus or understanding with the ultras, then the Government must constitute a judicial commission and punish them.  हमसे ही सुधार शुरु करना पड़ेगा। The image of a clean politician should start with us.  We should be clean first before we talk about tackling these problems.  The nexus of politicians and the terrorist bodies is a serious matter. 

          If proper steps are not taken, then the North-East will be a bigger problem then the problem of Jammu and Kashmir.  North-East is burning.  I would like to appeal by saying “Save North-East to Save India”. 

 श्री रवि प्रकाश वर्मा (खीरी)  :उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, आपने मुझे अपनी बात कहने का मौका दिया, इसके लिए आपको धन्यवाद। हिन्दुस्तान को आज़ाद हुए 61 साल हो गए हैं। एक नयी भाषा चारों तरफ सुनी एवं सुनाई जा रही है और वह धमाकों और आतंक की भाषा है। मुझे नहीं लगता कि दूसरा कोई ऐसा इश्यु है जो आज की तारीख में इससे कहीं ज्यादा सुना जाता होगा और सुनाया जाता होगा।

          उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, हम एक तरफ यह भी पढ़ते एवं सुनते रहे हैं कि साऊथ एशिया एक ऐसे मोकाम पर खड़ा है, जहां आने वाले दस वर्षों में नौजवानों की तादाद सबसे ज्यादा होगी। हिन्दुस्तान, पाकिस्तान, बंग्लादेश और जितने भी एडज्वानिंग कंट्रीज़ हैं, वहां लगभग 85 परसैंट पापुलेशन नौजवान लड़के-लड़कियों की है। यह रेश्यो कुछ समय बाद पूरी धरती पर लगभग उल्टी हो चुकी होगी, 55 परसैंट से भी ज्यादा लोग बूढ़े हो चुके होंगे और 45 परसैंट लोग जवान होंगे। ऐसे मौके पर हमारे नौजवानों को यह सोचना चाहिए था कि हम कुछ ऐसा करें कि अब मानवता की सेवा करने के लिए घर से बाहर निकलें और पूरी ह्यूमेनिटी की देखभाल करें और ऐसे मौके पर हम हिन्दुस्तान में धमाके सुन रहे हैं। यह हताशा के स्वर हैं। मैं सरकार को चेतावनी देना चाहता हूं कि वह इन धमाकों की नयी भाषा को सुन करके, उसका अर्थ समझने का प्रयास करे, कहीं ऐसा न हो कि बहुत देर हो जाए।  

          उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, हमारे विद्वान साथियों ने बहुत कुछ कहा है, मैं उनके साथ अपनी बात रखते हुए केवल इतना कहना चाहता हूं कि दो चीजें सामने आ रही हैं - कुछ जगह धमाके हैं और कुछ जगह करप्शन है। मुझे लगता है कि यह वास्तविक कथा करप्शन वर्सिस टेरेरिज़्म की है और दोनों कहीं बिछड़ कर जुड़ते भी हैं, कम्पनसेट भी कर रहे हैं। हम सब के बीच में वे ऑफ लाइफ बनते जा रहे हैं। जैसा हमारे पूर्ववक्ता बता रहे थे कि मुंबई में एक बड़ी घटना घटी तो यह एक नेशनल इश्यु हो गया। नार्थ-ईस्ट में यह परम्परा बन चुकी है। वहां डेली होता है और इससे किसी को कोई फर्क भी नहीं पड़ता। टेरेरिस्ट एक्टीविटीज़ के लिए टॉलरेंस उतनी ही खतरनाक है, जितनी हिन्दुस्तान में फैला हुआ जो व्यापक भ्रष्टाचार है, उसके लिए टॉलरेंस बन रही है। मैं समझता हूं कि हमें इस चीज को बहुत गहराई के साथ समझना चाहिए। ये दो चीजें ऐसी हैं जो हिन्दुस्तान के लोकतंत्र को जड़ कर देना चाहती हैं, वह लोकतंत्र, जिसके लिए हिन्दुस्तान के लोगों ने बड़ी लड़ाई लड़ी, आज़ादी के लिए संघर्ष किया। हमने यह तय किया था कि हम हिन्दुस्तान में बराबरी लाएंगे, हर व्यक्ति को अपने पैरों पर खड़ा करेंगे और जो कमजोर हैं, उनकी मदद करेंगे।[s35]    15.00 hrs.           उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, हम एक अच्छा मुल्क बनाएंगे, लेकिन 60 साल हो गए, [r36] इन वर्षों में जो चीजें सामने आई हैं, उनमें देखने को मिलता है कि समाज के एक बहुत बड़े हिस्से को सोश्यल सिस्टम्स के अंदर लॉक कर के रख दिया गया है। हिन्दुस्तान में तरक्की हुई, उसे नहीं पता। हिन्दुस्तान खुशहाली आई, उसे नहीं पता। हिन्दुस्तान में थोड़ी शिक्षा बढ़ी, उसे आज भी नहीं पता। हिन्दुस्तान में रोजगार मिला, उसे आज तक नहीं पता। हिन्दुस्तान ने साढ़े नौ परसेंट आर्थिक ग्रोथ सस्टेन की, उसे नहीं पता। हिन्दुस्तान का एक ऐसा तबका है, जिसे हिन्दुस्तान की इन खूबियों के बारे में पता नहीं चला। उसे यह पता ही नहीं चला कि हिन्दुस्तान का विकास भी हुआ है। यह लॉकिंग मैकेनिज्म है। सोश्यल लॉकिंग, इकनौमिक लॉकिंग और पॉलीटिकल लॉकिंग से, आज तक हम हिन्दुस्तान के उस तबके को बाहर नहीं निकाल पाए। इसी का परिणाम है कि यह नई भाषा आज हमें सुनने को मिल रही है।

          महोदय, पिछले साल, माननीय शिवराज पाटिल जी यहां बयान दे रहे थे। हिन्दुस्तान के ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों के जो 580 जिले हैं, उनमें से 230 में, जो नौजवान लड़के और लड़कियां हैं, वे बन्दूकें उठा चुके हैं और व्यवस्था को चेलैंज कर रहे हैं। कोई प्रजा राज्यम, कोई पीपल्स वॉर, कोई नक्सल, कोई माओ, और कोई माले इस प्रकार के संगठन बना चुके हैं। यकीनन बहुत देर हो गई। जिस प्रकार से हमारे डिलीवरी सिस्टम ने परफॉर्म किया है, उससे आदमी को इंसाफ नहीं मिला, शिक्षा नहीं मिली, न्याय नहीं मिला। उसका यह परिणाम है कि हिन्दुस्तान में जातीयता और आईडेंटिटी की एक नई राजनीति पैदा हो गई और वह मिलिटेंट पॉलीटिक्स में कन्वर्ट हो रही है।

          महोदय, मुझे यह कहने में कोई अफसोस नहीं है कि हमने बहुत देर कर दी, क्योंकि हिन्दुस्तान में जो 7200 जातियां हैं, वे एक-दूसरे में अपना विश्वास खो रही हैं, वह इसलिए कि उन्हें इंसाफ नहीं मिल रहा है। हम आतंकवाद पर बात कर रहे हैं, टैररिज्म पर बात कर रहे हैं और बॉम्ब ब्लास्ट पर बात कर रहे हैं, लेकिन क्या हमने गौर से कभी देखा है कि हिन्दुस्तान में प्रॉसीक्यूशन रेट कितना है? मैं अपने जिले की बात जानता हूं, जो बॉर्डर का जिला है, वहां सात या आठ परसेंट प्रॉसीक्यूशन रेट है। यानी गुनाह करने वाला कभी जेल नहीं जाएगा। जेल कौन जाएंगे, जो स्पेशल एक्ट के शिकार हैं, फिर चाहे दहेज कानून के अन्दर बन्द हों या हरिजन एक्ट के अन्दर बन्द किए गए हों। मैं इस बात का दावा कर सकता हूं कि पूरे हिन्दुस्तान के अंदर इन मामलों से जेलें भरी पड़ी हैं, लेकिन गुनाह करने वाले जेलों से बाहर हैं, क्योंकि उनके बहुत सारे मददगार हैं। दुर्भाग्य यह है कि एक नई अर्थव्यवस्था पैदा हो गई और वह है गुनाह की अर्थव्यवस्था।

          महोदय, हमने वोहरा कमीशन की रिपोर्ट पढ़ी है, जो आज तक इस हाउस में डिसकस नहीं हुई। पता नहीं, वह कब से धूल खा रही है। उसमें साफ-साफ बताया है कि हिन्दुस्तान में जो संगठित आर्थिक अपराध हैं, उनकी एक बहुत बड़ी चेन बन चुकी है. लेकिन सरकार को पता ही नहीं है। वह रिपोर्ट 12-13 साल से आज तक धूल खा रही है, लेकिन आज तक उस पर डिबेट नहीं हुई।       महोदय, हिन्दुस्तानी समाज को नए रूप में देखने के लिए, जो नए लक्ष्य थे उन्हें पूरा करने के लिए, कुछ न कुछ करना चाहिए था, लेकिन वह आज तक हमसे नहीं हो सका। सचाई यह है कि आज हम पाकिस्तान से अपराधी मांग रहे हैं। क्या हमारी सरकार की ताकत है, क्या हमारी राज्य सरकारों की ताकत है कि अपने अपराधियों को जेल में बन्द कर दें। अभी मुम्बई के अंदर हमला हुआ, पूरा मुल्क हिला हुआ है, लेकिन उत्तर प्रदेश ही नहीं, बल्कि लगभग सभी राज्यों में, जिस कद्र हिन्दुस्तानियों के ऊपर, अपने ही भाइयों के ऊपर जुल्म किए जा रहे हैं, जान से मारा जा रहा है। आसाम और महाराष्ट्र इसके उदाहरण हैं। क्या हम अपने ही अपराधियों को जेल भेजने की हिम्मत कर पाएंगे, चाहे फिर दिल्ली में दंगा हुआ हो, गुजरात में हमला हुआ हो या महाराष्ठ्र में दंगा हुआ हो? हम पाकिस्तान से अपने अपराधी मांग रहे हैं जब कि हम अपने ही देश के अंदर अपने ही अपराधियों को जेल भेजने की हिम्मत नहीं कर सकते। मुझे लगता है कि यह बहुत गम्भीर सवाल है। मैं बहुत ब्रीफ में बोलकर अपना स्थान ग्रहण करुंगा। आप मुझे थोड़ा और मौका दीजिए।

          महोदय, इस पर हमें एक बार बड़ी गहराई से सोचना होगा कि हम सिम्पटोमैटिक ट्रीटमेंट कर के समस्या से बाहर नहीं आ सकते। हमें अपने लोगों को अन्दर से इम्यून करना होगा और उन रास्तों को बन्द करना होगा जिन रास्तों पर चलकर आज हम यहां तक पहुंच गए हैं। लोक तंत्र का जो हमारा उद्देश्य था और जो हमारा लक्ष्य था वह पूरा नहीं हो पाया। आज जो हमारी नीतियां हैं, उन्होंने अमीर और गरीब आदमी के बीच बहुत खाई बढ़ा दी है। हम 7 लाख 50 हजार करोड़ रुपए बजट पर खर्च कर रहे हैं। लगभग 25 लाख करोड़ रुपया हमारे हिन्दुस्तान पर विदेशियों का कर्जा है। प्रधानमंत्री जी एक बार कह रहे थे कि हमें इन्क्लूसिव ग्रोथ चाहिए, कहां से इन्क्लूसिव ग्रोथ आएगी, जब किसान जहर खाकर मर रहा है और सर्विस सैक्टर में लोगों को बड़े-बड़े मुनाफे हो रहे हैं। अमीर और गरीब के अन्दर इतनी दूरी पैदा हो गई है, जो सामाजिक गैप पैदा हो गया है, मुझे लगता है कि इसको हमें नये तरीके से एड्रैस करना पड़ेगा। एक बात मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि हिन्दुस्तान के निवासियों के बीच में जो दूरी आ रही है, यह वह समय है कि एक स्टेचुटरी प्रोवीजन किया जाये कि हिन्दुस्तान के अन्दर चाहे कोई भी सरकार हो, Specified economic growth rate has to be sustained by all. कोई भी सरकार, चाहे वह प्रान्त की सरकार हो या वह यहां की सरकार हो, अगर वह उस स्पेसीफाइड ग्रोथ रेट से नीचे एचीव करती है तो उसको चेतावनी कांस्टीटय़ूशन से मिलनी चाहिए।

          आज भावनात्मक मुद्दों पर राजनीति की जाती है, भाई को भाई से लड़ाकर राजनीति की जाती है, समाज को तोड़ा जा रहा है, बिगाड़ा जा रहा है, उसको पीछे घसीटा जा रहा है, क्या उन लोगों को शासन करने का हक है? आज पूरे हिन्दुस्तान में इसकी प्रतिक्रिया हो रही है। मैं मुम्बई का हाल देख रहा था, हमला आतंकवादियों ने किया, लेकिन लोग नेताओं को गालियां दे रहे थे तो आखिर क्यों? कहां से कमी आई, इसके अन्दर कौन सी चूक हो गई? यह निश्चित रूप से एक चिन्ता का विषय है, यह मैंने पहले भी कई बार कहा है।

          मैं फिनिश करना चाहता हूं। सरकार आर्थिक सुधारों की ओर आगे बढ़ रही है, बढ़े, हमें कोई दिक्कत नहीं। लेकिन बिना व्यापक स्तर पर न्यायिक और प्रशासनिक सुधार लागू किये हुए आर्थिक सुधार लागू करने के मायने क्या थे? यही एक दूरी है, इसी ने हिन्दुस्तान के अन्दर गैप पैदा किया है। आज आम आदमी को न्याय भी, इन्साफ भी मुहैया नहीं, लेकिन जो सम्पन्न लोग हैं, उनका कुछ नहीं होता, चाहे वे कितना भी बड़ा गुनाह कर लें। यह अखबारों ने हमें बताया है, यह मीडिया ने हमको बताया है और यह मैसेज पूरे हिन्दुस्तान में चला गया है। इस मैसेज को मिटीगेट करने के लिए हमने कहा था कि हर तरीके से एक ट्रियो चाहिए, इकोनोमिक रिफोर्म्स के साथ में एडमिनिस्ट्रेटिव और ज्यूडीशियल रिफोर्म्स लांच करने बहुत जरूरी हैं।

          अब मैं एक बात पर आ रहा हूं कि जो बाहर से स्पोन्सर्ड आतंकवाद हिन्दुस्तान में है, यह हिन्दुस्तान का फर्ज बनता है कि हिन्दुस्तान अकेला तरक्की नहीं कर सकता। जो हमारे राजनेता हैं, जो हमारे बड़े नेता हैं, यह उनके ऊपर जवाबदेही है कि जो हमारे नेबरिंग स्टेट्स हैं, उनके साथ में हम लोगों ने सार्क की बात की थी, पूरे साउथ ईस्ट एशिया को एक पोलिटिकल इकोनोमिक ग्रुप बनाने की बात की थी, अगर कहीं हमारी वहां सफलताएं रही हैं तो निश्चित रूप से आज वे हमसे कीमत ले रही हैं और उससे भी बड़ी बात, जो मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि जो हमारी एडमिनिस्ट्रेटिव मशीनरी इस पूरी प्रक्रिया में इन्वोल्व है, वह फिलोसोफिकली अपडेटिड नहीं है। यह हमने अभी देखा कि जिस तरीके से इंसरजेंसी एक नई भाषा बनती जा रही है धमाके एक नई भाषा बनते जा रहे हैं, जो हिन्दुस्तान में सबसे अधिक सुने जाने लगे हैं, यह जिम्मेदारी सरकारों पर आती है, राज्य सरकारों पर भी और भारत सरकार के ऊपर भी कि एक व्यापक स्तर पर बहुत बड़ा मास्टर प्लान बनाकर जो कारण हैं, उन कारणों को मिटाने का काम करें और जो मशीनरी और जो पब्लिक इसमें इन्वोल्व्ड है, उसकी जो फिलोसोफिकली अपडेटिंग है, वह इस समस्या का समाधान कर सकती है। यह एक चुनौती भी है। इस चुनौती को पार करके हिन्दुस्तान आगे निकलेगा और आगे निकलकर जो उसकी गरिमा और गौरव है, उसे प्राप्त करेगा, ऐसा हम विश्वास करते हैं।

          इसी संसद ने रिजोल्व किया है, संकल्प किया है कि आतंकवाद के खिलाफ एक बड़ी लड़ाई हमें लड़नी है, लेकिन उस लड़ाई में टूल्स खाली सरकार के हाथ में नहीं हैं, उस लड़ाई के टूल्स जनता के हाथ में भी देने पड़ेंगे। उसको जनता को आगाह करना पड़ेगा, उसको एम्पावर करना पड़ेगा, तब जाकर यह लड़ाई लड़नी होगी। मैं आशा करता हूं कि हमारा भविष्य अच्छा होगा।

 

उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : श्री देवेन्द्र प्रसाद यादव, बहुत मैम्बर बोलने वाले हैं, इसलिए भाषण ब्रीफ में करें।

 

 श्री देवेन्द्र प्रसाद यादव (झंझारपुर): उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, आज श्री छानसुमा बैसीमुथियारी जी ने नियम 193 के तहत असम और पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों में हुए बम विस्फोटों पर चर्चा उठाई है। मैं उनको धन्यवाद देना चाहता हूं।

          आज का जो विषय इतना महत्वपूर्ण और संवेदनशील विषय है, राष्ट्रीय और अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय विषय है, जिस पर चर्चा हो रही है। मैं समझता हूं कि हर सत्र में, चाहे उग्रवाद पर चर्चा होती है या नक्सली हिंसा पर चर्चा हो, पर अब सबसे ज्यादा आतंकवादी हिंसा पर चर्चा हो रही है।[R37]            यह सम्पूर्ण देश के लिए चुनौती बनकर सामने खड़ा है क्योंकि यह राष्ट्र की एकता और अखंडता, सुरक्षा और अस्मिता से जुड़ा हुआ महत्वपूर्ण विषय है। पूरे देश को आतंकवादी हिंसा से अस्थिर करना आतंकवादियों का लक्ष्य है। मैं इस बात का जिक्र इसलिए कर रहा हूं क्योंकि समस्या और कारण की चर्चा काफी विस्तार से बराबर होती है, लेकिन हम लोग समाधान पर कोई निश्चित मत नहीं बना पाते। अच्छा प्रिसिडैंस हुआ, परसों जब मुम्बई पर चर्चा हो रही थी तो पूरे सदन ने एक स्वर से संकल्प लिया है, पूरे राष्ट्र का एक संकल्प हुआ। उस संकल्प से सरकार और हम सब लोग बंधे हैं। 30 अक्टूबर को असम की राजधानी गुवाहाटी, कोकराझार, बरपेटा, बोगई गांव में जिस ढंग से सिलसिलेवार, एक के बाद एक बम विस्फोट की घटनाओं को अंजाम दिया गया, उससे पूरा राष्ट्र मर्माहत हुआ है, हम सब लोग उससे मर्माहत हुए हैं। लेकिन लोगों के मन में एक प्रश्न उठता है कि आखिर ऐसी घटनाओं से मुक्ति कब मिलेगी? हम सुन रहे थे, श्री कीरेन रिजीजू ने बहुत अच्छी बात कही थी। देश की आंतरिक सुरक्षा व्यवस्था कब ठीक होगी या आतंकवाद पर कब नियंत्रण होगा? यह सवाल आज यक्ष की तरह पूरे देश में खड़ा है। इसीलिए हमें इन प्रश्नों का उत्तर जनता को देना ही होगा, यह सवाल है। जनता, अवाम, पूरे देश को, चाहे सरकार हो चाहे हम लोग हों, जनप्रतिनिधि हों, सांसद हों, सर्वोच्च सदन में यह चर्चा हो रही है। यह दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण बात है कि सेना को इस आतंकी हमले की आशंका थी क्योंकि जिस तरह की जानकारी दी गई है और यह अखबारों में मीडिया के जरिए भी आया है। खुफिया जानकारी मिली थी। इतने संभावित आतंकी हमले की जानकारी असम राज्य सरकार और असम पुलिस मिशनरी को भी दी गई थी, जैसे कहा गया है। ठीक है, हम किसी की आलोचना करके इस समस्या का हल नहीं कर सकते। मुख्यमंत्री सरकार के मुखिया होते हैं, उनकी इस पर नियंत्रण करने की विशेष जिम्मेदारी है क्योंकि लॉ एंड आर्डर स्टेट का भी विषय है। आज जो स्थिति पैदा हुई है, उसमें मैं समझता हूं कि राज्य के चारों शहरों में दर्जनभर जो बम विस्फोट सिलसिलेवार हुए और निर्दोष लोगों की जानें गईं, यहां तक कि अगल-बगल के भी पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों, और राज्यों में भी बराबर परम्परगत ढंग से यह घटना घटती रही। ये घटनाएं नियंत्रण में नहीं आ पा रही हैं। इसका मतलब है कि हम देश में समन्वित प्रयास नहीं कर पा रहे हैं। आतंकवाद निरोधक बल का अभाव है या कमजोर खुफिया तंत्र है। जो भी हो, हम इस पर जितनी भी चर्चा कर लें, इस चर्चा से हमें कोई निजात नहीं मिलेगी। समुचित समाधान क्या हो। इसीलिए आज का विषय हमें समुचित समाधान की ओर ले जाता है।  हम इस पर जितनी भी चर्चा कर लें, आतंकी घटना की निन्दा कर लें, राजनीतिक दौर चल पड़ता है, नेता निन्दा करते हैं, दुख और संवेदना व्यक्त करते हैं, मृतकों और घायलों के नाम पर अनुग्रह राशियां बांटी जाती हैं, लेकिन इसी के साथ सरकार, बड़े-बड़े आधिकारी अपने दायित्व की इतिश्री कर लेते हैं। उग्रवाद और आतंकवादी संगठनों के विरुद्ध कठोर कार्यवाही के बजाए हम कोई समाधान नहीं निकाल पाते, यह सवाल है।

          मैं इस बात पर ज्यादा नहीं बोलूंगा, मैं इतना ही कहना चाहता हूं कि आज असम हो चाहे पूर्वोत्तर राज्य हों, जहां भी इस तरह बम ब्लास्ट के आतंकी हमले या उग्रवादी हिंसा हो रही है, कीरेन जी ने ठीक कहा था, हमने पिछले सत्र में भी इस विषय को उठाया था। किस तरह बिहारी मजदूरों को, उत्तर प्रदेश के लोगों को, हिन्दी भाषा-भाषी लोगों को, यहां तक कि पश्चिम बंगाल के मजदूरों पर भी अटैक हुआ, क्योंकि उग्रवादी संगठन, उलफा हो या आज हूजी का नाम आ रहा है, कई आतंकवादी संगठनों का नाम आ रहा है, जो भी नाम आ रहा हो, आखिर यह जो समस्या है, इसका समाधान क्या है। क्या हम विफलता पर चर्चा कर लें?[N38]  खुफिया तंत्र की विफलता थी, राज्य सरकार की विफलता थी। पुलिस को अत्याधुनिक नहीं बनाया गया। इन सारी चर्चाओं के बाद भी हम समाधान पर नहीं पहुंचते। इसलिए आज समाधान पर भी चर्चा होनी चाहिए कि आखिर इस राष्ट्रीय-अंतर्राष्ट्रीय समस्या को गंभीरतापूर्वक क्यों नहीं लिया जाता? शासक तो बदलते रहते हैं लेकिन इस देश में प्रशासक परमानेंट है, परमानेंट का मतलब जब तक उनकी कार्यावधि है।  

          अभी मुम्बई में घटना घटित हुई। वह नैशनल इश्यू बना, तो वहां के मुख्यमंत्री और गृह मंत्री हट गये। क्या इससे समस्या का समाधान हो गया?  चूंकि प्रशासक नहीं बदलता, प्रशासक वही है,  उसी तंत्र से हमें काम लेना है, उसी तंत्र से आप आतंकवाद के खिलाफ कार्रवाई करवायेंगे। इसलिए हम कहना चाहते हैं कि आतंकवादी राष्ट्रविरोधी है और जो उग्रवादी हैं, वे व्यवस्थाविरोधी हैं। इन दोनों में फर्क है। जो आतंकवादी हैं, वे राष्ट्रविरोधी हैं और जो उग्रवादी हैं, चरमपंथी हैं या नक्सली हिंसा है , वह व्यवस्थाविरोधी है। इसलिए इन दी लार्जेस्ट इंटरैस्ट आफ दी डेमोक्रेसी, प्रजातंत्र के व्यापक हित में और इन दी लार्जेस्ट इंटरैस्ट आफ दी कानून व्यवस्था, पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों की कानून-व्यवस्था और वहां के लोगों की जान-माल की रक्षा का सवाल है। पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों या असम का डेवलपमैंट हो, उनके व्यापक हित का सवाल हो, इससे पूरे देश व्यापक हित कुंठित हो जाते हैं, रुक जाते हैं, वहां की प्रगति रुक जायेगी। इसलिए कंट्री की सिक्योरिटी और अस्थिरता फैलाने का जो काम है, उस पर विचार करके हम समझते हैं कि शासक दल चाहे विपक्ष हो या छोटी पार्टियां हों, सब लोग मिलकर इस पर गहन गंभीरता से विचार करें। जो लोग एंटी- टेरोरिस्ट के विशेषज्ञ हैं, जो आतंकवाद की जानकारी रखते हैं या सुरक्षा के विशेषज्ञ हैं, उन लोगों को भी बैठक में बैठाया जाये और इस पर गंभीरता से विचार करके सरकार को कोई रणनीति तैयार करनी होगी। क्योंकि हर बार घटना होगी, निंदा होगी, लोगों को राहत राशि मिल जायेगी और हम लोग भूल जायेंगे।

           अभी माननीय सदस्य ने ठीक ही कहा था। उन्होंने जो कहा, उसे सुनकर हमें बहुत अच्छा लगा कि आज जो प्रशासक  हैं, जो रूल करते हैं, वह तंत्र तो वही है। अब मंत्री बदल देने से तंत्र तो नहीं बदलता, तंत्र तो वही रह जाता है। जब तक उनमें एफीशेंसी  नहीं होगी, उनकी इच्छाशक्ति नहीं जगायी जायेगी, उनमें जब तक संकल्प नहीं होगा, जब तक वे एक्शन प्लान नहीं करेंगे तब तक इसका समाधान नहीं हो सकता है। केवल आलोचना और विफलता की चर्चा करके हम इससे निजात नहीं पा सकते। इसलिए हम निवेदन करना चाहते हैं कि आज हम सब लोगों को इस बात पर विचार कर लेना चाहिए, मन बनाना चाहिए क्योंकि यह सर्वोच्च सदन है। हम केवल सरकार की विफलता कहकर अपने कर्तव्यों की इतिश्री कर लेते हैं। केवल विफलता और आलोचना की चर्चा करके इसका समाधान नहीं निकलेगा। इसका समुचित समाधान निकालने के लिए इस पर गंभीरतापूर्वक विचार होना चाहिए और विचार करके रणनीति बनानी चाहिए। विशेषज्ञों की एक बैठक होनी चाहिए और सीमा प्रबंधन को सुदृढ़ किया जाना चाहिए। सीमा पार के प्रशिक्षित आतंकवादी जो हमारे देश में प्रवेश करते हैं, उनको रोकने के लिए स्पष्ट उपाय करने चाहिए। राज्य सरकार और केन्द्र सरकार के खुफिया तंत्रों में स्पेशल कोआर्डीनेशन कायम करने हेतु कोई स्पष्ट निर्देश और गाइडलाइन्स होने चाहिए। आतंकवाद और उग्रवाद से निपटने के लिए राज्य के पुलिस बलों और केन्द्रीय सुरक्षा बलों के लिए हाइटेक प्रशिक्षण की व्यवस्था की जानी चाहिए।

          चौथा, राज्य सरकारों ने पुलिस में इजाफा करने की बात उठायी थी। उनका कहना है कि राज्यों में पुलिस की संख्या कम है। यदि वहां  पुलिस की संख्या कम है, तो वह मुकाबला कैसे करेंगे। जब पूरा पूर्वोत्तर राज्य आतंकवाद  से जूझ रहा है, चाहे वह मणिपुर, नागालैंड, अरुणाचल प्रदेश, गुवाहटी या असम प्रदेश हो, सब जगह बारी-बारी से कुछ न कुछ घटनाएं घट रही हैं।

  15.19 hrs.                       (Shri Varkala Radhakrishnan in the Chair)  इसलिए मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि नक्सलवाद और उग्रवादी व्यवस्था परिवर्तन का सवाल उठाते हैं। मैं समझता हूं कि इन राज्यों के लिए जो आर्थिक पैकेज दिया जाता है, वह जमीन पर लागू नहीं होता। अब वह जमीन पर कैसे लागू हो? आप नार्थ ईस्टर्न रीजन, पिछड़े राज्यों को स्पेशल फाइनेंशियल असिस्टेंस देते हैं, लेकिन क्या वे पैसे जमीन पर जा पाते हैं? वे पैसे तो ऊपर ही रह जाते हैं। वे पैसे नीचे विकास में नहीं जाते। राष्ट्र की मुख्य धारा में पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों के लोग कैसे आयेंगे?  जब तक वे राष्ट्र की मुख्य धारा से नहीं जुड़ते तब तक बेरोजगार नौजवानों को भ्रमित करने में ये लोग सफल हो जाते हैं।[MSOffice39]  इसलिए यह भी बेसिक सवाल है। सभापति महोदय, मैं कुछ बुनियादी सवाल उठाना चाहूंगा। पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों में जो भी वित्तीय मदद दी जाती है, वह हकीकत में जमीन तक नहीं पहुंच पाती है। इसलिए हिंसा का यह भी एक कारण है। यह भी ठीक बात है कि आतंकवादियों का कोई राष्ट्र नहीं होता। वे लोग हमारे देश को अस्थिर करके तोड़ना चाहते हैं। इसलिए इस पर ध्यान देने की जरूरत है। केन्द्रीय जांच एजेंसीज जब भी कभी कोई अनुसंधान करती हैं, तो उन्हें राज्य सरकारों की इजाजत लेनी पड़ती है। केन्द्रीय जांच एजेंसीज को आजादी होनी चाहिए ऐसे मामलों में, जहां आतंकवादी गतिविधियां हैं, जहां उग्रवादी हिंसा फैला रहे हैं, वहां इन्हें राज्यों से स्वीकृति नहीं लेने की आजादी होनी चाहिए। माननीय सदस्य ने ठीक बात कही कि उन्हें इजाजत लेने की जरूरत नहीं पड़नी चाहिए। इसके अलावा राज्य सरकार से सेना के विषय में किसी प्रकार की कोई जानकारी आ रही है तो उस पर ध्यान देना चाहिए। इसलिए केन्द्रीय जांच एजेंसी को यह अधिकार होना जरूरी है। इसके लिए धारा 355 में संशोधन आवश्यक हो तो करना चाहिए।

          हमारे गृह मंत्री जी ने कुछ दिन पहले ही यह पद भार सम्भाला है। इन्होंने मुम्बई घटना पर खुफिया एजेंसीज से चूक होने की बात स्वीकार की है। यह एकदम सफेद दूध की तरह बात इन्होंने कही है। इस तरह की बात करके गृह मंत्री जी ने एक नई परम्परा शुरू की है, केवल उथली-उथली बात कहकर जबर्दस्ती बयान देने से उन्होंने परहेज किया है। हम इसका स्वागत करते हैं।

          यह ठीक है कि कानून और व्यवस्था राज्य सरकार का विषय है, उसकी जिम्मेदारी है, लेकिन आतंकवादी गतिविधि, नक्सली हिंसा, उग्रवादी हिंसा जिस एरिया में हों, वहां केन्द्रीय जांच एजेंसीज को राज्य सरकार से आदेश लेने की जरूरत नहीं है। उसके लिए आवश्यक हो तो धारा 355 में संशोधन करना पड़े तो बुनियादी संशोधन करना चाहिए। आंतरिक सुरक्षा की चिंता को देखते हुए यदि संविधान में भी इस सम्बन्ध में कोई संशोधन की जरूरत पड़े, तो उसके लिए विधेयक लाना चाहिए, जैसा कि सरकार की मंशा भी है। इसलिए इस विधेयक को तुंत लाया जाए। जहां तक सरकार ने विशेष जांच एजेंसी स्थापित करने की बात कही है, तो मैं समझता हूं कि उसकी जरूरत है। इसलिए इस पर तुंत ध्यान देना चाहिए।

          अंत में मैं एक बात और कहना चाहूंगा। सबसे ज्यादा जरूरी है कि हम सब लोग एकजुट हो जाएं। देश में कही साप्रदायिक सद्भाव न बिगड़े, तब ही हम आतंकवादी और उग्रवादी हिंसा का मुकाबला कर सकते हैं। अगर देश में साप्रदायिक सद्भाव बिगड़ेगा तो उसका मुकाबला करना कठिन होगा। इसलिए हम सब एस स्वर से, चट्टानी एकता से आतंकवाद के खिलाफ एकजुट होकर काम करें, तो मैं समझता हूं कि हम उस पर काबू पा लेंगे।

                                                                                               

 SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): Mr. Chairman, Sir, last week, we discussed the horrific incident that took place in Mumbai.  Today, we are discussing what happened in the four places of Assam. Assam continuously is facing terrorist activities.  Assam and entire North Eastern Region is facing continuously for several years the attack from terrorist as well as militant forces.

          We can remember that there was a conspiracy to balkanize the entire North Eastern Region, the seven sisters we call.  We have not forgotten 'Operation Brahmaputra' which was the conspiracy by US imperialism.

          On 30th October, during daytime, they selected a time when a large number of people assembled, may be in Fancy Bazar, may be in the places in front of Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, or in Ganeshguri.[r40]              Sir, in Assam, there had been more than 700 incidents in the last ten years, and in these incidents a large number of people were killed.  This serial bomb blast took place at the same time on the 30th October in four places – Guwahati, Barpeta Road, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon.  It was a well planned action.  If it was not a well planned action, how can the same type of incident take place at the same time in these places?

          Sir, I had visited myself the Pan Bazar, the compound wall of the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court and Ganeshguri.  Both myself and our Rajya Sabha Member, Comrade Brinda Karat went to Guwahati next day and visited Fancy Bazar and also Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court.  We had also visited the hospitals where the injured were admitted.  More than 100 people were killed in these four places.  A police station is only a few meters away from Fancy Bazar, where this bomb blast took place.  There is also a women police station very close to that place.  Most of these victims are common people. They were small shop owners, vegetable vendors, daily wage earners, Kokrajhar tribals, Bengalis, Muslims, and Biharis, and most of them belong to the poorer sections of the society.

          Sir, there was a protest.  As result of this protest, curfew was to be imposed in Ganeshguri. When there was a need for united action in such an incident of terrorism, when there was a need for unity among the people, there was an attempt to divide the people and there was an attempt to communalize the situation.  We had seen how one Vice-President of BJP, who was also the former Minister, inciting the people.  She took out a procession with a dead body in order to incite the people and in order to communally divide the people.

          Sir, terrorist has no religion. [H41]  Terrorist has no caste.  When there was a need for united action, concerted action, there was an attempt by certain sections, certain groups and certain organisations like the BJP, RSS and Bajrang Dal to communalise the situation.  They tried to divide the people.  But I would congratulate the people of Assam who did not fall prey to such provocation.      

          Sir, I saw the statement of the Leader of the Opposition, Shri L.K. Advani.  The day he visited, we were also there in Guwahati.  He told that ‘the people of Assam should give reply to such incidents in the next Lok Sabha election.’  It is a shameless action.  When such a situation is there, if any political party tries to exploit the situation, tries to gain out of it, it is an unpardonable action.  When Advanji visited the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, we found the slogan was raised: “Advaniji go back.”  The people of Assam, the people of Gawahati did not fall prey to such provocation.

          There was an agitation. I know, there was an intelligence failure. When we met the Chief Minister in that evening, we also discussed all these aspects as to whether the Administration was aware of such incidents or not.  We have seen in the newspapers that there was information with the Administration that such types of action, such types of incidents would take place in Guwahati.  Though this was not the first incident, but it was a horrific incident.  In the past also, a number of such incidents had occurred, where the death toll was not high. But this time, about 100 people were killed.  A number of such incidents had taken place three years back also.  I had been to Guwahati when there was a bomb blast, where 12 persons belonging to Bihar, who were very poor people, rikshawalasand vegetable vendors, were killed by the ULFA. 

          Sir, it is most alarming to know that a link has been established between the ULFA and Jehadis  as also KLO.  There was also an attempt to have a link with Maoists. 

          Therefore, the Government should seriously think over the situation prevailing in the entire North-Eastern Region.  The progress of the entire Region is hampered.  I know about the one railway project. Sontoshda is very much aware of it. It is because of his efforts that this project was sanctioned and the work was started.[r42]            But construction has been stopped now because 11 RPF personnel were killed in a place two years back. The people are afraid of going there. Such is the situation. The Central Government should seriously think over it.

          We have the report. The man-police ratio is the lowest in the State of Assam. If in Tripura that project could be completed on schedule, why not in the State of Assam? Lumding-Badarpur-Silchar gauge conversion project is hampered. There is no progress.

          I cannot forget this. I still remember the face of the lady, Sunita. She lost her husband. When we visited Guwahati Medical College Hospital, we saw her weeping just sitting beside her little child, little son. Sir, 80 per cent was burnt. What she said, “Where will I go now; where will I stay?; I have lost my husband.” Her husband was bringing home their little child from school in the Ganeshgudi area.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude.

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: It is because of bomb blast, her husband lost his life. She could not find out even her husband’s dead body. She could not recognize the body. This is not one incident. There are such several incidents.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude.

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : So, what is required is this. We have discussed this issue at length in this House last week. But the Central Government should treat these activities in the State of Assam and other parts of the North-East separately.

          There was an incident in the State of Tripura. Tripura is constantly and continuously under threat. There are certain anti-national organizations.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude.

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: What we find is that in order to gain in election, during election, the Congress has its alliance with such groups which are anti-nationals. Their demand is for a separate State of Tripura. They have alliance with such divisive forces in order to gain in election. If a Party like Congress follows a narrow political opportunism, whether the problem of terrorism, the problem of militancy in the North-Eastern region can be tackled? There is a need for concerted action.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude. Now, Shri Mitrasen Yadav.

 SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : The Central Government will bring a law. But what we demand is this.[m43]            Whenever there is any terrorist incident in our country, the BJP’s demand is to restore POTA. Sir, POTA was a draconian Act. That was repealed by the UPA Government which was the demand of a large section of this House.     

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude.

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Under the changed name, if the Government tries to bring in those stringent and draconian provisions which were in the POTA in the new Bill, we will not support. There is a need for a law. But a stringent and draconian law like POTA will not be able to help to tackle the problem of terrorism.

MR. CHAIRMAN : You please conclude. 

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : So, there is a need for a concerted effort, a united action. By uniting the people we will be able to tackle the problem of terrorism. I sincerely hope that in the interest of progress and development of the North-East, in the interest of peace in that region, the Government will take action. Sir, there is a problem in Nagaland and Mizoram. In each of these States, there are problems. The Central Government should seriously think over it and unite the people.

MR. CHAIRMAN : It is very difficult. Please conclude now.

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : They should try to tackle this problem with the help of the people and by having unity of the people but not by dividing the people. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN : I have tried my level best. Shri Mitrasen Yadav to speak now. Nothing else will go on record.

(Interruptions) … * SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Sir, please give me a minute.

MR. CHAIRMAN : No, I have tried my level best.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: Sir, they are two sides of the same coin. Whenever there is such an incident, there are certain sections, some political parties, some groups who try to communalise the situation and divide the people. … (Interruptions) There is a need to isolate those groups with a concerted effort. I demand that the Government of India should seriously think over the incidents which are taking place for years together.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude now. Nothing else will go on record. Shri Mitrasen Yadav, you can start speaking. He will not stop.

(Interruptions) …* SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): Sir, just one minute. Some concrete measures are to be taken. … (Interruptions)

   

* Not recorded.

     

MR. CHAIRMAN : They are not reporting your speech. Only Shri Mitrasen Yadav’s speech will be recorded.

(Interruptions) … * SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): With these words, I conclude. Thank you for giving me the time.

                                             

* Not recorded.

 श्री मित्रसेन यादव (फ़ैज़ाबाद) : माननीय सभापति जी, माननीय सदस्य के द्वारा प्रस्तुत असम की गम्भीर परिस्थिति पर चर्चा में भाग लेने का आपने मुझे मौका दिया, इसके लिए मैं आपका आभारी हूं। इस चर्चा में जिनको इसका परीक्षण करना है, वह हमारी सदन के और सरकार के बहुत वरिष्ठ माननीय मंत्री गृह विभाग देख रहे हैं। माननीय चिदम्बरम जी का पूरे देश में बड़ा आदर-सम्मान है और मैं समझता हूं कि समस्या के समाधान में उनकी अपनी योग्यता भी काफी कुछ काम करेगी। दरअसल उस प्रदेश के अंदर घटने वाली घटनाओं और उसके कारणों पर हम चर्चा करते हैं, लेकिन निदान पर हम चर्चा नहीं करते कि आखिर इनसे निपटने का उपाय क्या है। समुद्र में सतुआ तो साना जाता है, लेकिन पानी साफ नहीं हो पाता है। असम में उग्रवाद और आतंकवाद की घटनाओं या देश के अंदर उग्रवाद का कारण क्या है। ये कारण सामाजिक, आर्थिक, राजनीतिक हैं या इसके पीछे विदेशी आतंकवाद है, इसके मूल में क्या कारण हैं, इसके बारे में हम अभी तक मंजिल पर नहीं पहुंचे हैं[b44] ।       यदि आर्थिक कारण है तो सरकार को देखना चाहिए। इस सरकार को सत्ता में रहते हुए लगभग 60 साल हो गये हैं। हिन्दुस्तान के विभिन्न प्रदेशों में पंचव­ाावय योजना लागू करके सभी क्षेत्रों में इरीगेशन, ट्रंसपोर्टेशन, एजुकेशन, स्वास्थ्य तथा सिंचाई इत्यादि सभी क्षेत्रों में समानता लाने का हमारा दायित्व था लेकिन इस क्षेत्र में हमारी सरकार ने जो जिम्मेदारी ली थी, उसे नहीं निभाया। असलियत क्या है कि हमने संविधान में डैमोक्रेसी सैकुलर और सोशलिस्ट स्टेट बनाने का संकल्प लिया था। माननीय मंत्री जी काफी जिम्मेदार मंत्री हैं। इसलिए मैं उन्हीं से सुनना चाहता हूं कि देश के लोगों ने कुर्बानी देकर देश को आजाद बनाकर जिस संविधान की प्रस्तावना में देश को ढ़ालने के लिए संकल्प लिया था, उसमें आप कितने कदम चले? क्या आपकी डैमोक्रेसी पर आंच नहीं आई है? क्या आप सैकुलर स्टेट बनाने में समर्थ हो रहे हैं? पूरे संविधान की प्रस्तावना की मूल भावना भी आज सुरक्षित नहीं है। इसलिए सवाल इस बात का है कि अगर वि­ामता की खाई जैसे हमारे अन्य साथियों ने कहा, यानी गरीबी-अमीरी की खाई जितनी बढ़ती जाएगी, उतना ही इस देश के अंदर उग्रवाद और आतंकवाद बढ़ता जाएगा।

           राजनैतिक कारणों को हमने देखा। पंजाब में हमने अकाली दल को फेल करने के लिए भिंडरावाले को पैदा किया तो हमने इंदिरा गांधी जैसी नेता को खोया और इसी तरह से हमने गलत तरीका अपनाया तो हमने स्वर्गीय राजीव गांधी जी को खोया। आज भी इसी तरीके से न मालूम कितने लोगों को हम खो रहे हैं। हमने इस कारण को पहचानने की कोशिश ही नहीं की। इसलिए आज देश के अंदर, आम जनता के सामने सबसे बड़ी समस्या आतंकवाद है। आज देश की जनता के सामने सबसे बड़ा सवाल यह है कि आतंकवाद की पैदाइश क्यों हो रही है? नक्सलवाद के जन्म का कारण क्या है, क्या हम लोग इसे नहीं जानते हैं? इसलिए जब तक इन कारणों को जानकर इनका इलाज नहीं किया जाएगा तब तक घटनाओं पर चर्चा करने से और कानून बनाने से कुछ नहीं होगा क्योंकि कानून और बनाते जाइए लेकिन अगर जनता भूखी है, जनता में अगर असंतो­ा है, लोगों में दोहरा मापदंड है, सभी क्षेत्रों में अगर आप वि­ामता कायम कर रहे हैं तो कानून से आदमी नहीं मानेगा। कोई कानून भूख को नहीं रोक सकता। आपकी परिभा­ाा क्या है? उस परिभा­ाा के हिसाब से आपने अपने देश में क्या किया? सभी प्रदेशों के अंदर गरीबी, बेरोजगारी और महंगाई बढ़ती जा रही है। आपने सभी चीजों पर एकाधिकार कायम कर दिया है, निजीकरण कर दिया है, मींस ऑफ प्रोडक्शन लोगों के हाथों में चले जा रहे हैं। जनता को न तो रोटी मिल रही है, न काम मिल रहा है तो जनता कानून नहीं तोड़ेगी तो क्या करेगी? उसके लिए आतंकवाद या उग्रवाद जो भी करना पड़े, वह करेगी। इससे हम क्यों मुंह चुराते हैं? इससे हम अपने को बचाने की कोशिश क्यों करते हैं? इसलिए आज सबसे बड़ी समस्या उग्रवाद और आतंकवाद की है और अगर हमें इन समस्याओं का निदान करना है तो उसके इलाज की जड़ में हमें जाना पड़ेगा और उसका हमें बैठकर निदान ढ़ूंढ़ना होगा। इसलिए माननीय मंत्री जी से हम चाहेंगे कि पूरे देश की तमाम पोलिटिकल पार्टीज के नेताओं को बैठाकर, देश में जो उग्रवाद या जो आंतरिक असंतो­ा है, उसका हल करने के लिए सबको कोई रास्ता निकालना चाहिए क्योंकि देश इस मामले में एक हो सकता है। आतंकवाद के खिलाफ देश एक साथ खड़ा हो गया है। किसी भी बुराई के खिलाफ, किसी भी अमानवीय व्यवस्था के खिलाफ कोई ऐसी व्यवस्था बनाने के लिए देश की जनता, देश की पार्टियां एक साथ खड़ी हो सकती हैं। आज जरूरत इस बात की है कि आप इसके खिलाफ जनमत बनाएं।[r45]            इस सरकार की सब से बड़ी जिम्मेदारी है कि  देश के अंदर  जो विषमतायें आतंकवाद और उग्रवाद जो देश की सुरक्षा के लिये सब से ज्यादा घातक है, उन्हें समाप्त करने के लिये आप एक जनमत तैयार करें। आज जरूरत इस बात की है कि गरीबी, बेरोज़गारी तथा तमाम तरह के अन्यायों संबंधी समस्यायें हैं, उन्हें हल करने के लिये जब तक आप राजनैतिक तौर पर कोई समाधान नहीं करेंगे, या इसके पीछे राजनीति की जायेगी - चाहे सप्रदायवाद हो या राजनैतिक दलों का स्वार्थ हो - जैसा कि हमारे साथियों ने भी कहा है, इस समस्या का समाधान नहीं कर पायेंगे। इसलिये सरकार से मेरी मांग है कि इस गम्भीर विषय की संजीदगी को देखते हुये देश के नेताओं और बड़े अधिकारियों को आपस में बैठकर इसका समाधान निकालना चाहिये कि किस तरीके से बढ़ते हुये  जनता के असंतोष, विषमताओं, गरीबी-अमीरी की खाई को बढ़ने से रोकने के लिये नीति बनाई जाये जिससे वह असंतोष नक्सलवाद और उग्रवाद में न तबदील हो जाये। हमें इसके लिये एक बुनियादी तरीका अपनाना होगा। अगर नहीं अपनायेंगे  तो कानून से इस समस्या का समाधान नहीं हो सकता है।

 PROF. K.M. KADER MOHIDEEN (VELLORE): Thank you, Sir. I am grateful to you for having given me an opportunity to participate in the discussion on the blasts in Assam.

          Terrorist activities are taking place throughout India and elsewhere in the world also, and it has become an international problem creating menace and causing greatest havoc to humanity. It is indeed an act against the humanity.

          In Assam, particularly, in October, car and motor bombs had exploded in four districts; about 80 persons were killed; and more than one hundred were injured when bomb blasts took place in Assam and elsewhere. The immediate accusation is made against Muslims and the Muslim community, and at times it is described as Islamic terrorism. Terrorism has no religion as terrorism itself is its own religion. We cannot call anyone as a Muslim terrorist or a Hindu terrorist or a Christian terrorist or a Sikh terrorist. Terrorism itself is a new caste, and terrorist himself belongs to a new religion, namely, the religion of criminals; a religion of inhumanity; and a religion of Satan. Therefore, terrorism could not be equated with any religion, any caste or any community in this country.

          Malegaon terrorist acts took place, and some Hindu sanyasis and sanyasinis were suspected and arrested. We should not call them as Hindu terrorists because of this reason. Therefore, I strongly object to the use of the phrase Hindu terrorist or Muslim terrorist or Christian terrorist or Sikh terrorist.

          As far as Assam is concerned, more than 1,500 incidents had taken place last year, and it is not that one or two incidents took place there. A series of blasts had taken place.[r46]  As a culmination of all that, the incidents of October had taken place. Recently one paper called Milli Gazette quoted the South Asian Terrorism Portal saying that there are 174 terrorist groups in our country. There are 32 terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir; 12 in Punjab; 40 in Manipur; 36 in Assam; 30 in Tripura; 3 in Nagpur; 4 in Meghalaya; 2 in Mizoram; and 1 in Arunachal Pradesh. These terrorist groups have been identified.

          The hon. Home Minister has, all these years and days, been working for the uplift of aam aadmi. Now we are confident that he will uproot the ‘bomb aadmi’ in this country. I would request him to issue a white paper on the terror groups in the country giving details of all the terror groups, who are their leaders, what are their ideas, what they have been doing in this country. If that is known to the people of this country, they will be able to understand who is who, what is what.

          The very word Assam, an Arabic word, means death. But now it has become a den of death for such people because of these bomb blasts. These bomb blasts should be uprooted from the soil of India. India is a land where all communities live in a pluralistic society. We are benefited by the confluence of cultures in this country. Every religion, every community living in this country is contributing to the greatness and glory of this great nation.

          In Assam particularly the Muslims are considered to be foreigners. Those who speak Bengali language are treated and considered to be the people who have migrated from Bangladesh.  Here in this House also for the last four years I have been listening that Muslims in Assam are all the time said to be the people of Bangladesh. They are here from the very inception of the country.… (Interruptions) They are people of this country. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude.

PROF. K.M. KADER MOHIDEEN : They should be treated as people of this country. … (Interruptions) They are not treated as the citizens. These people should be considered not as aliens, not as outsiders, and not as foreigner. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN : If anything is objectionable, it will not be on record. I will expunge it. Do not worry.

PROF. K.M. KADER MOHIDEEN : I would like to tell you that those people should not be differentiated from others. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude.

PROF. K.M. KADER MOHIDEEN : Those who indulge in terrorist acts should be separated, isolated. … (Interruptions) A distinction should be made. But all Muslims living in Assam should not be considered as foreigners. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Anything objectionable will not be on record.

PROF. K.M. KADER MOHIDEEN (VELLORE): This is a very important thing. I have been listening to that. Everyone, every citizen of the country, is treated as foreigner or alien. It is the duty of the Government to identify who is a foreigner, who is an alien. … (Interruptions) Therefore, my appeal is that India’s sovereignty, India’s glory and greatness should be made known to the entire world.

… (Interruptions).

 

 SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY (PURI): Mr. Chairman, Sir, the other day we were discussing the terrorists’ attack on Mumbai and today, we are discussing the serial bomb blasts that took place in Assam and the terrorist activities in the North East.

          It seems the entire country is afflicted with the terrorist activities and the Union Government is completely helpless because in other States also the naxal activities are going on. This is the position of the country now.

          The entire country is shocked with the news of the heinous terrorist outrage like the serial bomb blasts of 30th October 2008 in Assam. This incident speaks about the helplessness of the Union Government and the Government of Assam and their intelligence failure. Once again, the terrorists have sent a chilling reminder that they can strike anywhere in the country at their will. It is now established that any one can slap people around in India. This is the situation in the country now.

          The terror in Assam is not just tragic, but it is a malignant devastation that has visited a place where the people who are known, until comparatively recently, for their hospitality, calm, peace-loving nature and kindness, are victims of this ugly act.

          Serial bomb blasts have rocked Assam on 30th October 2008, killing 66 persons including 33 in Guwahati City, while more than 350 others were injured. The State had witnessed as many as nine blasts at 11.30 a.m. and all the bombs were well-planned and fitted with timer devices. The minds that had planned this carnage had obviously set themselves a series of tasks. It had intended to inflict the maximum damage in a short space of time and in high visibility area, and to show that terrorists can strike at will.

          Assam’s steady descent into darkness has been happening over a period of time, with armed uprisings against the country and Assam itself, with proliferation of ethnic divisions and communal divides over the past years.

          It is really interesting that various persons supposedly in charge of security are still bickering about who has done it. The hon. Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Assam have lamented divisive forces; the State’s IGP had blamed fundamentalists; the State Health Minister had felt that it was the work of the ULFA; and the intelligence agencies had said that it was the work of the breakaway ULFA group in cahoots with the HUJI. So, those who are responsible for security are speaking in different languages because they are not sure who has done it.

          In 2007, Assam was the State with the second highest number of terrorist incident-related deaths in India. Something is terribly wrong and no one seems to know how to fix it. It is now very much necessary to know what is going wrong in Assam. Assam is completely on turmoil mostly since 2004. There were about 267 terror-related incidents in 2004. In 2005 the number of terror-related incidents was 398; 413 in 2006, 474 in 2007 and we are now in 2008 and we have witnessed this Assam bomb blast.  The situation is worse now in Assam.

          Similarly, the number of civilians killed in these incidents are; 194, 173, 164 and 287 from 2004 to 2007 respectively.  Security forces killed in such incidents are 17, 7, 32 and 27 from 2004 to 2007 respectively.  We have observed what has happened in 2008.  I think the number of the persons killed will be much more.

          If we take account of the entire North-East, the situation is worse. As per the Report of the Home Ministry, there has been an increase in the overall terrorists’ violence in the North-East in 2007.   Outfits like ULFA, KLNLF and DHD(J) account for the majority of the incidents in Assam. Manipur and Nagaland continue to be affected by the insurgent activities of a large number of militant outfits. Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed increase in incidents as compared to the previous year. 

As per the report of the Home Ministry, the number of incidents in North-East alone is 1234, 1332, 1366 and 1489 from 2004 to 2007 respectively.  The number of civilians killed in 2004 was 414 and in 2007 the number has increased to 498.  So, the situation in the entire North-East is very bad.  I am one with hon. Member Shri Kiran Rijiju when he was narrating how the Government has completely failed.  The Assam Accord has been there for the last 20 years but there is no progress.  North-East is a very sensitive area and for the security of our country it is very much necessary that we must keep North-East in good health.  The Government had decided to fence the entire North-East.  But I think the Union Government has no money as it could not complete fencing for the last 20 years.  It is the question of will.  It seems that the Government is not very much serious.    The whole of North-east always apprehends tension. We have observed what has happened in Mumbai.  This raises serious concern for the coastal States.  The Government of India seems to be not very much serious to tackle terrorism.  There should be a political will to combat terrorism which is completely lacking with this Government.  The Government is not very much serious.  The Assam Government has politicised it.  I do not want to mention all these things as already Members belonging to North-East have expressed their serious concern.  The ruling party is interested in outsiders coming to the State.  Their number is on the increase.

 Some Members wanted to know why the Government is not issuing the Identity Card.  What is the problem with the Union Government or the State Government to issue the Identity Card?  They are not doing it deliberately.  I would say that they are not doing it with ulterior motives behind it.  All these problems need to be tackled to combat terrorism.  If we are not able to do so, ultimately the country will suffer.

One very serious thing is the intelligence information was there.  The Border Security Force had passed the information one or two months back about the possibility of an attack.[R47]  I do not know if there was some intelligence information available with the Border Security Force.  What is the difficulty with the Union Government?  Why have they not shared this information with the State Government?  If at all it was shared with the State Government, why had they not taken precautionary measures?

          Today, all the people of this country are suffering and they are in a helpless position because of this callous attitude of both the Union Government and the State Government of Assam.  So, we expect that the Union Government will take necessary steps to rectify the situation, otherwise, the country will suffer.

                                                                                     

श्री अनंत गंगाराम गीते (रत्नागिरि): सभापति महोदय, मुम्बई पर जो आतंकी हमला हुआ, उसे देश पर हमला कह कर हमने इस सदन में उसकी कड़ी निन्दा की। सारा सदन इस बात पर एक रहा और उसी दिन जब हम मुम्बई पर हुए आतंकी हमले की चर्चा के लिए यहां एकत्रित हुए, जो आसाम से हमारे सदस्य हैं, जो नॉर्थ-ईस्ट से सदस्य हैं, वे आसाम में हुए सीरियल ब्लास्ट्स को लेकर काफी उत्तेजित थे और उन्होंने अपनी उस उत्तेजना को सदन में भी प्रकट किया।

          सभापति जी, उस चर्चा में कई वक्ताओं ने यह कहा कि आतंक का कोई धर्म नहीं होता, आतंकवादियों की कोई जाति नहीं होती, आतंकवादी किसी मजहब से ताल्लुक नहीं रखते। हम भी उन सारी बातों से सहमत हैं। आतंकवादी, आतंकवादी हैं और आतंक, आतंक है। यदि आतंक हमारे देश के लिए खतरा है, यदि आतंकवाद के माध्यम से हमारे देश पर बार-बार हमले हो रहे हैं, तो उसके लिए यदि सबसे ज्यादा किसी बात की आवश्यकता है, तो वह पॉलीटिकल विल यानी राजनीतिक मनोबल की आवश्यकता है। क्या सचमुच में हम इस आतंकवाद से लड़ना चाहते हैं, आज यह सवाल पूरे देश की जनता पूछना चाहती है?

          महोदय, हमने मुम्बई के आतंक के ऊपर यहां बहस की। उस हमले की हमारे गृह मंत्री जी ने कड़े शब्दों में निन्दा की। साफतौर पर उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि इसकी सारी जड़ें पाकिस्तान में हैं। हमने पहली बार, अपने विदेश मंत्री जी को इतनी तेज और कठोर भाषा में बोलते हुए सुना और उन्होंने भी उस हमले की भर्त्सना की, निन्दा की और उन्होंने भी यही कहा कि इसकी सारी ज़ड़ें पाकिस्तान में हैं। महोदय, आसाम में जो सीरियल बम ब्लास्ट्स हुए, उनकी जांच करने के लिए कि आतंकवादी कहां से आए, इसके लिए किसी जांच एजेंसी की आवश्यकता नहीं है, क्योंकि वे सारे के सारे आतंकवादी बांग्लादेशी हैं। आज नॉर्थ-ईस्ट में, विशेषकर आसाम में, पिछले कई दिनों से जो लगातार, आतंकवादी हमले कर रहे हैं, वे सारे आतंकवादी बांग्लादेशी हैं और इसे साबित करने के लिए हमें किसी जांच एजेंसी की आवश्यकता नहीं है। यह बिलकुल सत्य है और इस बात को सारा हिन्दुस्तान मानता है कि आसाम में जो भी आतंकवादी हमले कर रहे हैं, वे सारे बांग्लादेशी हैं और जब वे सारे बांग्लादेशी हैं और वे हमारे देश में आकर आतंक फैला रहे हैं, एक के बाद एक सीरियल ब्लास्ट्स कर रहे हैं, जो हमारे लोग निरपराध हैं, जो निर्दोष हैं, उनकी हत्या कर रहे हैं, गोली से भूना जाता है, बम से उड़ाया जाता है और उसके बाद भी हम उन पर कोई कार्रवाई न करें, तो यह बात कैसे देश सहन कर सकता है?

          महोदय,  राज्य सरकार तो इन आतंकी हमलों को रोकने में असफल है। केवल आसाम ही नहीं, बल्कि जहां-जहां ये आतंकी हमले हुए हैं, वहां की सारी राज्य सरकारें इन्हें रोकने में असफल रही हैं और उनका साफ तौर पर कहना है कि इससे लड़ना, हमारे वश की बात नहीं है और जब यह राज्यों के वश की बात नहीं है, तो इसकी सीधी जिम्मेदारी भारत सरकार पर है।   [r48]  हम कई वर्षों से कहते आ रहे हैं, इस सदन में कई बार हमने कहा कि बड़ी संख्या में बंगलादेशी घुसपैठिये इस देश में हैं और जब हम यह कहते हैं कि बंगलादेशी घुसपैठिये इस देश में आये हैं तो सीधे हमें यह कहा जाता है कि आप बंगलादेशी घुसपैठिये कहकर मुसलमानों के साथ उनको जोड़ते हैं। मुझे समझ में नहीं आता, बंगलादेश हमारा पड़ोसी देश है, उस पड़ोसी देश से यदि कोई गैरकानूनन हमारे देश में रहता हो तो वह घुसपैठिया है, उसके खिलाफ हमें कार्रवाई करनी चाहिए। सारे देश को इसके लिए एक होना चाहिए। मुझे यह समझ में नहीं आता कि हमें यह सीख दी जाती है कि आप बंगलादेशियों के नाम पर मुसलमानों को टार्गेट करते हैं। यह हमारी समझ के बाहर की बात है। यह कोई हिन्दू या मुसलमान का विवाद नहीं है, बल्कि यह एक समस्या है। आज दिल्ली में कितने ही हैं, मुम्बई में कितने ही बंगलादेशी हैं।

          मैं असम में एक टूर पर गया था, मेरे ख्याल से यह लगभग 10 साल पहले की बात है, जब रूरल और अर्बन डैवलपमेंट की एक ही कमेटी थी। आज के मंत्री श्री संतोष मोहन देव जी उसके चेयरमैन थे, उनके नेतृत्व में सांसदों का एक दौरा हुआ था। हम तब असम में सिल्चर गये थे। जब हम सिल्चर गये तो सिल्चर के पास एक करीमगंज शहर है और करीमगंज के बीच में एक छोटी सी नदी है, उस नदी के उस तरफ भी करीमगंज है और इस तरफ भी करीमगंज है। जो नदी के इस तरफ करीमगंज है, वह भारत का अंग है और नदी के उस तरफ जो करीमगंज है, वह बंगलादेश का अंग है। दोनों शहरों का नाम करीमगंज है। उस करीमगंज के लोगों के बीच रोटी-बेटी का रिश्ता है।...( व्यवधान) हम वहां के शहर का नाम बता रहे हैं। हो सकता है कि मैं गलत हूं, आप उसे सुधारिये। उस करीमगंज में जब हम गये तो वहां पर एक रीवर है, जो हमारा बोर्डर है, वह एक नदी है। वहां फेंसिंग वगैरह कुछ नहीं है और वहां के लोगों के बीच में रोटी-बेटी का रिश्ता है। जो नदी के उस तरफ बंगलादेश से हैं, वे व्यापार करने के लिए हमारे करीमगंज में आते हैं और कहते हैं कि शाम को वापस जाते हैं, उनके आपस में शादी-ब्याह होते हैं। यह किस प्रकार की हमारी सीमा है, कैसा हमारा बोर्डर है? एक खाली गेट बनाकर रखा है। बंगलादेश के करीमगंज से लोग आते हैं और करीमगंज हमारे असम का हिस्सा है। एक बार असम में आते हैं तो वहां से सारे हिन्दुस्तान में कहीं भी जा सकते हैं। इस प्रकार से यदि हमारी सीमाएं हमने खोल रखी हैं और इस प्रकार से यदि विदेशी नागरिक हमारे देश में घुसते हैं और उसके खिलाफ अगर हम कहते हैं कि इन्हें देश से बाहर करना चाहिए, तब हमें यह सीख दी जाती है कि आप बंगलादेशियों के नाम पर मुसलमानों की आलोचना करते हैं।

          सवाल बंगला भाषा का नहीं है, सवाल किसी अन्य भाषा का नहीं है, लेकिन यह सत्य है और रोजाना लोग आ रहे हैं। मैं गृह मंत्री जी से निवेदन करूंगा, सरकार से यह निवेदन करूंगा कि अब यह मामला दिन-ब-दिन बढ़ता जा रहा है, हमारे लिए यह खतरा दिन-ब-दिन बढ़ता जा रहा है। आज एक के बाद एक असम में विस्फोट होते हैं। आज हमारी कोई भी पार्लियामेंटरी स्टेंडिंग कमेटी नोर्थ ईस्ट के टूर पर नहीं जा सकती और यदि जाना है तो पूरी सेना को साथ में लेना पड़ता है। हिन्दुस्तान में, हमारे देश में यदि हमें किसी नोर्थ ईस्ट के स्टेट में जाना है तो हमें सेना को साथ में ले जाना पड़ता है। यह कहा जाता है कि उनके समर्थन के बगैर ...( व्यवधान)

          सभापति जी, मैं अकेला यह नहीं कह रहा हूं, हमारे सारे सदस्य किसी न किसी समिति के सदस्य हैं। हम वहां सुरक्षा के बगैर कहीं नहीं जा सकते। यह हालत है और ऐसी स्थिति में हमें अब इस विवाद में नहीं पड़ना चाहिए। आतंकवाद के खिलाफ यदि हमें लड़ना है, आतंकवाद को खत्म करना है तो उसके लिए सबसे आवश्यक है कि राजनैतिक मनोबल को, पोलिटिकल विल को यह कहने की आवश्यकता है कि इसके आगे किसी बंगलादेशी घुसपैठिये को इस देश में कदम नहीं रखने देंगे।[R49]                                                                                                                                               इस देश में जो भी हैं, उन्हें देश से बाहर करेंगे, यह साहस सरकार को करना चाहिए, कहना चाहिए, नहीं तो हम आतंकवाद से किस प्रकार लड़ेंगे। लोग जानें गंवाते हैं, नागरिक मरते हैं, हम खाली यहां पर उनके लिए श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हैं, एक दिन के लिए सदन को स्थगित करते हैं। आज सारी दुनिया में हमारे देश का एक मजाक हो चुका है। गिने-चुने आतंकी आते हैं और पूरे देश को ललकारते हैं।

          सभापति जी, मैं आपका ज्यादा समय नहीं लूंगा, लेकिन कहना चाहूंगा कि इस देश में जितने भी बंगलादेशी घुसपैठिए हैं, उनकी जांच करके, जितने भी विदेशी हैं, उन सबको हमारे देश से बाहर करने की आवश्यकता है।

                                                                                     

 SHRI C.K. CHANDRAPPAN (TRICHUR): Sir, this is a very important discussion that is taking place in this House.  Only on the other day we discussed about terrorism in our country in the context of Mumbai blasts.  These acts of terrorism, whether they happen in Mumbai or in Assam, are of the same nature. It is all part of an international conspiracy to destabilise our country; to dismember our nation; to wreck our economy; and to attack our sovereignty.  There is no doubt about it. 

          Twenty-three years ago the famous Assam Accord was signed. Along with that, many more Accords were signed for bringing peace in that region of North-East.  But, today, when we are discussing this problem, I would like to say that the Governments, headed by various parties, both in the Centre and in the States, during the last 23 years, did not show any political will to implement the Assam Accord.   The political will was not shown by either, those who are sitting here today in the Opposition and those who are sitting there as ruling party, when they had a chance to show their political will and implement the Assam Accord. I must say sadly they failed. This is the reality. 

          What was the Assam Accord all about? In short, it was to detect and deport all those who are foreigners who infiltrated into our country after 1971. This is the thing which was not done. So, today we are reaping the harvest. Today, when the conditions are right for that conspiracy, which is hatched against India, it happens in Mumbai and it happens in Assam.  It may happen elsewhere also. 

          In this situation, what is the most important problem in the North-East? It is a very beautiful region.  It showcases the diversity of our nation with so many beautiful tribes and so many nationalities there.  But they are backward.  One of the most backward regions in this country is that region.  It is not that there are no packages.  There are many packages.  What we hear is that packages are implemented.  But on the ground, people are not benefited.  Probably, somebody was mentioning here, and it is not a lie, that considerable part of the money that goes to the North-East, goes to the insurgents.  Is it not a very shameful thing to happen in a country where money spent by the Central Government and the State Government, insurgents are taking their share and strengthening themselves?[MSOffice50]  In this way, we cannot administer this country. We have to take stringent actions so that things are set right.  Now, the time has come that we cannot wait anymore. 

          Sir, the National Integration Council was meeting.  The hon. Prime Minister addressed it and he expressed his concern about the happenings in Assam several months ago. The Chief Minister of Assam also said that the situation is very serious.   Is just expressing concern enough?   Now, I hope that the hon. Minister of Home Affairs will reply that. 

          There was an All-Party meeting held in Assam after the blasts and the All-Party meeting unanimously decided that a Central investigation should be done and the culprits should be identified and a CBI inquiry was demanded.   It was demanded a long time ago. However, no action in this regard has been taken by the Centre.  Now, I would request the new hon. Minister of Home Affairs to take urgent steps since he has assured the House that important steps will be taken, legislative measures and also administrative measures will be taken to put an end to terrorism.   

          Sir, the Assam people wanted a CBI inquiry into the developments, and into the terrorists’ incidents that took place there.  I do not know what is the difficulty.  I would expect that the hon. Minister of Home Affairs will make a firm commitment that All-Party meeting demands would be acceded to and action will be taken immediately.  That is an important thing and the people will understand that the Centre is moving.

          Secondly, we have to ensure that the economic condition of the whole region is improved. If that requires a lot of money to be spent and in a time-frame, that has to be done and only then we can ensure that peace will prevail there. 

          Sir, that is an area where maximum unemployment is there. What is the solution to that? They do not have any industry. You might be knowing it and you might have visited there.  That is one of the richest areas in our nation – rich with minerals, rich with water resources, but that is the poorest area where all these mineral and material wealth that we have and water resources that we have is hardly exploited. So, a crash plan should be there and should be implemented with such determination so that we will be able to see that that part is developed along with other parts of the nation. Otherwise, sensex development and per capita income will not work.   Their lives should be changed.  Therefore, in that line, I would expect the Government to take some action.

          Now, everybody told here that the conspiracy is being hatched in Bangladesh.  It is no more a secret.  If conspiracy is being hatched in Bangladesh, then we have to take up with Bangladesh this issue and see that it is settled.  It may not be that easy to settle it.  If that is not settled, then we have to put up such measures that our borders are well protected.[a51]  I know it is an area where lots of countries are bordering India. But we cannot just say that it is a curse, it is a geographical reality. So, if in this part of the country, we try to put a fence on the border on that side, it will help. In the Standing Committee on Home Affairs, the explanation given was that it is a marshy place. Well,   in the marshy place, we have to put up a fence or other thing, whatever it is, I do not know.… (Interruptions) I will not take much of your time. We have to take action so that our border is well-protected. That action is an immediate thing.

          Lastly, I would like to say that public opinion should be created. Terrorism cannot be fought only with arms. Terrorism can be fought only if we succeed in uniting the people. Unitedly, if they decide that we are against terrorism, then, terrorism will be defeated.  This has to be ensured. Economic development should be ensured. Political will should be shown so that the country’s borders are protected. Diplomatic skill should be shown so that the neighbours are taken to our side. Public opinion should be created internationally so that India’s case stands out an exemplary case where we have something to say that the country’s interest is being attacked; it is being attempted to torpedo by the enemies of the people, the enemies of the nation. So, in this context, I would expect the Government to take immediate step. The immediate step is immediately ordering a CBI inquiry which was the demand of all the parties in the All-Party Meeting. Then, the Government should strengthen the border by taking whatever measures which are immediately required. Government should be taking the case to the world forum and see that we get support to our side from them. Bangladesh should be told that we are not going to tolerate if that is going to become a den of conspiracy against India.

          With these words, I conclude.

 

MR. CHAIRMAN :  I would request the House to cooperate with me. There are  about 14 speakers remaining to speak. The time allotted is very little. Kindly help me. Cut short your speech within five minutes each. There are Members taking ten minutes. Please be brief because almost all the points have been covered. Any point which is not mentioned already can be made. So, in that perspective, my request is that you have to cut short your speech limited to five minutes or less.

          Now, Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma to speak.

 DR. ARUN KUMAR SARMA (LAKHIMPUR):    Mr. Chairman, Sir, I thank you for allowing me to speak on this occasion. While we discussed about the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, we were agitated why the Assam bomb last was not clubbed with the Mumbai issue. There was a feeling that terrorist attack in Mumbai is an attack on India but the terrorist attack in Assam is an isolated case and a law and order problem of the State or the North-Eastern Region. What I feel is that it was done to give a clear message to Pakistan. I would also appeal to the hon. Home Minister through this august House, through our discussion to give a clear message to Bangladesh. There should be a clear message to Bangladesh through another Resolution so that it will do in an appropriate manner.

          Sir, we hailed the creation of Bangladesh. But, subsequently, it is creating problem for India a number of times. Many of the militant outfits are being sheltered, being trained and also presently they are now sheltering the ISI activities. They are sheltering various internationally active terrorist organizations along with Bangladesh corridor to use it against India, to destabilize India through the   North-Eastern Region. I would appeal to the hon. Home Minister to strongly have a message on this issue and have a political will to deal with Bangladesh because we are already having more than 50 lakh Bangladeshis in the North-Eastern Region.[R52]            We have made another historical blunder there of allowing them voting rights. Historically it was a necessity for the creation of Bangladesh. But what is the necessity of allowing large number of Bangladesis to have voting rights and giving them equal rights with other citizens, marginalising the indigenous people of Assam. For that blunder, we now have to pay the price. Many of the incidents that are taking place in Assam and in various other parts of the country are linked to Bangladesh migrants. So, it is a very serious issue.

          Sir, the Northeast problem cannot be equated with terrorist activities taking place in other parts of the country. There is ethnic violence in the Northeast, a large number of militant outfits are working in the region and there is a porous border – 98 per cent of the border of the North Eastern Region with the neighbouring countries like China, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar are porous and because of the porous border all the activities are being perpetrated from Pakistan through ISI. Many of the ISI activists who were apprehended 7 years ago are being released now because the Government of Assam could not frame appropriate charges against them and so the court has released them. Then, one of the ISI activists has fled from the hospital. It is a shame that we are undermining the security threat posed to our country’s sovereignty and integrity from Bangladesh.

          This is a very serious issue. I hope the Government of India will come out with a specific action plan for the Northeast to curb the violence and to have a reasonable strategy for the entire region and for the creation of a number of battalions and task forces who can really deal with the situation. Presently, the Central Government is shifting its responsibility to the Government of Assam and the Government of Assam has, so far, failed to deliver the goods on this particular issue. On many occasions, the intelligence agencies have alerted the Government of Assam, but the Government failed to take action. So far more than 600 bomb blasts have taken place in Assam, but not a single culprit has been caught till date. How is it that such culprits are caught in other parts of the country? There is something very fishy and we have to take note of this also.

          I would like to make one more point. Many Pakistani terrorists are able to come and take shelter in hotels and in rented houses now because we do not have National Identity Cards and because of that, anybody can come and claim to be Indians. It is very difficult for the security forces to identify them. That is why, when there was an agitation on the illegal migrants issue in Assam, there was a demand for updating the National Registry of Citizens and on that basis, all the citizens should be given identity cards. Only then probably we can detect the terrorists.

          This is another serious issue. An hon. Member mentioned here that we treat Indian Muslims and Bangladeshi Muslims differently and it is because the Bangladesh Muslims have taken all the powers, they have destroyed our culture and they have influenced our political identity. That is the main threat to Assam.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude.

DR. ARUN KUMAR SARMA : Sir, we have to take care of another very important issue. When the Chinese aggression took place in 1962 and when the Indian Army abandoned Assam, Indian currencies were burnt there. The late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had made a statement: “My heart goes out to the people of Assam.” From that time onwards, the international terrorist forces have started working in the Northeast. We have neglected the region. The Government of India did not give adequate emphasis to the development of the Northeast and extortion has become a main source of income to militants in the region. So, if we really want to handle the issue properly, we should consider the region as an integral part of India and Northeast should be treated equally with the other parts of the country.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude now. There is one more speaker from your party.

DR. ARUN KUMAR SARMA : Sir, you are a very liberal person. I am from the Northeast and so I should be allowed to speak about the root cause of the problem for a few more minutes.

          Sir, why did I give a reference to the Chinese aggression? It is because from that time onwards, the intelligence agencies, the bureaucracy and the political class have all started to consider the issue in isolation and there is no proper emphasis on adequate development of the Northeast. The area has become a dumping ground of terrorists, a dumping ground of illegal arms from neighbouring countries and a dumping ground of lakhs and lakhs of Bangladesh nationals jeopardizing the integrity and sovereignty of the country.[R53]  [r54] It is a very serious issue.  The Government of Assam has failed to detect the culprits of any of the incidents.  There was an incident before the bomb blast on 30th of October.  The security forces have gunned down seven numbers of HUJI militants.  The message was given to the Government of Assam, but there was no adequate action. The Pakistani flag was hoisted, but the Government of Assam tried to cover it taking it as a flag to be hoisted on the Eid Festival… (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: I am calling the next speaker.

… (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing will go on record.

(Interruptions) …* DR. ARUN KUMAR SARMA : Sir, I am concluding with a request that it is a very serious issue and the international ramification of the entire issue of the North-East should be taken care of.  The Government of India should take special care on the issue of the North-East.  North-East should not be neglected in the future.

MR. CHAIRMAN: You please conclude now.

… (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: You will not stop.  Nothing will go on record.

(Interruptions) …* DR. ARUN KUMAR SARMA : Sir, there is a discrimination. Why the borders of North-East are not being sealed?  Why are we keeping the Bangladesh as a friendly country and allowing these incidents to continue?  What is the motive behind it?  This is a very serious matter.  We hope that the national register will be updated and the foreigners’ issue will be solved in an adequate manner keeping the North-East in the top priority of the agenda of the Government of India. 

 

* Not recorded.

     

          Sir, I have full confidence in Mr. Chidambaram.  He has a long experience and I have confidence in him that he will take appropriate strategy to curb the violence in the North-East and to remove the disparity against the North-East and bring the North-East at par with any of the developed parts of the country.

             

 SHRI NARAYAN CHANDRA BORKATAKY (MANGALDOI): Thank you very much, Sir.  The situation in Assam presently is, I should say, that the State is on the top of a living volcano.

          You all know that Assam is a peaceful State; people are amiable, peace-loving doctronised by  Vaish navite Westernised philosophy and way of life and at the same time they are very courageous also.

          Sometimes, I feel that this discussion perhaps would not have come here had the incidents not taken place in Mumbai.  After the incidents took place in Mumbai and when the hon. Home Minister had discussed that matter in Parliament, somehow the North-East matter, particularly, the Assam issue is being discussed today.  I thank him also that he has at least given us this opportunity to speak out our sentiments on this issue in this august House.

          Sir, I am worried whether Assam will remain as a part of India because if these sorts of things are allowed to happen, ultimately it will be annexed to Bangladesh.  On 30th of October serial bomb blasts have taken place.  Before that also lot many bomb blasts have taken place in Assam.  Then the black Friday carnage that took place in Udalguri and Darrang, there was a communal tension and ethnic people have been forced to come to relief camps; hundreds of people died, countless injured and more than one lakh people are staying in camps even now.

          These sort of things are going on in Assam and the Government of India is a mute spectator and the State Government is not taking any serious steps to curb violence there.  Many of my colleagues have told that the border is completely open.  I have been to the border and I have seen it. Anybody can come in any time. So, along with the infiltrators ( illegal immigrants) terrorists also sneak in. As has just been referred that seven HUJI militants were gunned in Dhubri, no proper action was taken. Different statements have been given by different people.  The military people have killed them.  After the incident of Udalguri and Darrang and then again the serial bomb blasts, I am worried whether the Government of India wants to stop such incidents or allow it to happen in Ass[r55] am again           I think, the root cause of this present volcanic situation is porous border and large-scale illegal immigrants coming into the State of Assam.  Slowly, they are also sneaking to different parts of the country.  In around six districts in Assam, the indigenous people have already become minorities.  As some people might be thinking, we are not against Indian Muslims.  Assam is a secular State.  But if this sort of illegal immigrants are allowed to come in a large number, the very structure of the demography is going to be disturbed. Now the indigenous Assamese people are minorities in six districts, and in another six districts they are going to be minority in the same way.  People have lost faith in the Government.  This is the biggest concern that they do not have any faith in the Government. 

          The recent riots of Udalguri and Darrang districts of Assam, which started on 3rd September, 2008, left about 100 dead, countless injured and more than 1,20,000 belonging to ethnic communities had to take shelter in relief camps.  The ethnic riots, popularly known as Black Friday Carnage, started with attacks on a number of people of Bodo and other indigenous communities by suspected Bangladeshi immigrants.  Even Pakistani Flag was hoisted by illegal immigrants and Jehadi forces at some villages in Udalguri district.  But the Chief Minister of Assam and the Government spokesman denied this incident of flag hoisting.  The Government spokesman claimed that the Eid flags were mistaken to be Pakistani Flag, though AUDF President Hafiz Rashid Choudhury states that there is no tradition of hoisting of 'Eid Flag'.  The Central Government should take cognisance of this episode and order for an independent probe and deal with the perpetrators adequately. 

          On the above communal riots, versions of the Chief Minister, spokesman of the Government and DGP are different.  DGP Shri R.N. Mathur told that there was no evidence of NDFB's involvement in the riots.… (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN : You can lay it on the Table so that time can be saved.

SHRI NARAYAN CHANDRA BORKATAKY : I will lay it, Sir.

          In view of my submission, I would like to say that the entire border along Bangladesh border is to be totally sealed at the earliest.  Assam Accord should be fully implemented, merely tripartite meeting from time to time will not help.  Insurgency should be dealt with administratively and also through political negotiations.  Talks with insurgent outfits should also be initiated. 

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude.

SHRI NARAYAN CHANDRA BORKATAKY : To prevent ISI activities, intelligence agencies should be made more efficient and meaningful.  There should be development of border areas. People living in the border areas should be involved in different developmental programmes so that they feel proud as an Indian citizen.  

People residing in border areas namely Dhubri and Karimganj in Assam, Garo hills and Shella in Meghalaya are influenced by publicity of Bangladeshi Radio and TV Networks.  This sort of cross-border international publicity should be banned. At the same time, our electronic media should be made strong by replacing the present week transmitters.

The 10 per cent funds of all the Departments earmarked for the development of NER should be spent only for the development of NE Region.  This dream project of former Prime Minister Shri A.B. Vajpayee, if implemented in letter and spirit, the development will take place rapidly and insurgency can also be curbed in a significant way because due to lack of developmental activities, unemployment has grown rapidly and youths become easy prey in the hands of insurgent outfits.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon. Member, you can place it on the Table.

… (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: People like you do not realize the situation. You place it on the table.  It will save time of the House. 

… (Interruptions)

SHRI NARAYAN CHANDRA BORKATAKY : Sir, I am just concluding. Mr. Basu Deb Acharia, a learned Member of the House, has tried to raise an issue today… (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Nobody will listen. 

SHRI NARAYAN CHANDRA BORKATAKY : What is wrong in hon. Advani ji's appeal to the people of Assam to be politically conscious … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude.

… (Interruptions)

*SHRI NARAYAN CHANDRA BORKATAKY : Sir the present volcanic situation can be attributed mainly to the following causes:-

Porous Border with the neighbouring Bangladesh causing large scale influx of illegal foreigners leading to change of demography. For instance in 6 districts of Assam population of religious minority has outnumbered the local Hindu population and became majority. After few years another 6 districts will become victim of this circumstances. The feeling of losing identity became so strong in the minds of the youth that an agitation under the leadership of AASU was started which continued for six years and more than 850 persons became martyrs.

As a result Historic Assam Accord was signed amongst Central Government, Government of Assam and AASU.  But saddest part is the Accord has not been fully implemented till now even after lapse of more than two decades.

          The incident of serial bomb blast on 30th Oct, 2008 had rocked Assam killing around 90 persons, 350 hurt in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta Road & Bangaigaon out of the dead 33 died in Guwahati alone. More than 10 bombs exploded almost simultaneously in Assam Chief Minister said it was done by divisive forces, the state IGP blamed fundamentalist, the Health Minister felt that the ULFA was behind the incident and intelligence agencies said that the breakway ULFA group in collision with Huji did the bomb blast.

         

*…..*This part of the Speech was laid on the Table.      

          Thus it is seen that Government in Assam have totally failed to give protection to the people of Assam and opposition parties demanded President Rule in the State of Assam.

          In view of the above submission, I urge the Central Government through you to immediately take the following hard decision and implement to save Assam for becoming an extended part of Bangladesh in near future.

(i)         The entire border along Bangladesh to be totally sealed at the earliest.

(ii)       Assam Accord to be fully implemented, merely tri-party meeting from time to time will not help.

(iii)     Insurgency to be dealt with administratively and also through political negotiations. Talk with insurgent outfits to be also initiated.

(iv)      To prevent ISI activities intelligence agencies should be made more efficient and meaningful.

(v)        Development of Border Areas. People leaving in the Border areas should be involved in different developmental programs so that they feel proud as Indian Citizen.*    SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA (GUWAHATI): Mr. Chairman, Sir, on 30th of October, in the bomb blast that had taken place, which had taken 89 and odd lives and injured 545 people, 52 of them died in my constituency.[r56]    I have taken the trouble of visiting almost every family where death occurred within my constituency. As I speak now, I remember the faces of those people who have lost their family members, who have lost perhaps their only son, who have lost perhaps their only earning member. I take this opportunity to pay my homage to the families of the departed souls not only of my constituency but also of all those who have died in a bomb blast on 30l of October and on other occasions.

I also join my voice to pay homage to those who have laid down their lives in Mumbai. Sir, a common saying in Assam is:

“Bandukar gulir sabdat rati puwai, kuli ketekir matot ketia rati puwab?”           बंदूक और बम के धमाके से सुबह आती है, बुलबुल और कोयल की आवाज से फिर कब सुबह आयेगी।

The morning comes with a sound of gunshots. When will the morning come with the sweet song of nightingale and cuckoo?

16.51 hrs                                  (Mr. Speaker in the Chair) Sir, it is really unfortunate that in spite of all kinds of efforts from all sections, the green fields of Assam have become killing fields. There are places where deaths occur as a constant ritual. Cruel deaths and lonely deaths are leaving a trail of tragedy. We are still not in a position to say that these deaths will come to an end. We, the polity as a whole, have to shoulder our responsibility in this. There cannot be any place for political recrimination in this.

Sir, as I start this debate as a representative of my constituency where deaths occurred, I remember that a few days back we have discussed about a similar situation taking place in Mumbai on 26th November.

 

There are differences between the incident in Mumbai and the incident in Guwahati. I was thinking whether I should emphasize on the differences or on the similarities. But, I think, both are equally relevant to understand the issues involved.

There were differences. Mumbai is the commercial Capital of India, where the leading cultural events, cinema has its headquarters and where cricket, the leading sports has its hub.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Minister has to start the reply at 1730 hours. SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA : Sir, I have understood it.

There are three Cs - Commerce, Cinema and Cricket. Bomb blasts took place in Assam in places unknown to the national media, in smaller towns. People  totally unknown, lost their lives. Sir, thanks to you, you are giving some opportunity to discuss about those lives.

Sir, it was also a case of cross border terrorism. Actually foreigners did not come to Guwahati to plant the bombs. At least we know that the bombs were planted by local extremists but they have their sanctuary in another neighbouring country, Bangladesh. Most of the extremists in Assam have their haven in Bangladesh. I do not have to tell my Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram, who has been one of those brilliant Indian politicians and who has been giving a lot of attention to the development of the Region to say that Sir, a time has come now to point an accusing finger strongly at Bangladesh. That is the need of the hour. That is the voice of all sections of the people. Bangladesh must not be allowed to get away by becoming a safe haven for all kinds of terrorist attacks in the North-East.[H57]            Yes, we have been talking about Pakistan.  But Bangladesh also needs to be tamed, and we want Mr. P. Chidambaram to tame Bangladesh as fast as possible.  They cannot allow the extremists from the North-East to do their businesses there; they cannot  allow their banks to be the depositors of illegal money, which they get from Assam or the North-East as extortions.

          Sir, since the time is short, I would just emphasise two or three points because I had a discussion with all the leading intellectuals in Guwahati after the bomb blast. Cutting across party-lines, cutting across party affiliations, all these intellectuals have told me to convey a few things to the Indian Government, to the national leadership. 

          Sir, now that you have become the Home Minister… MR. SPEAKER: Not me.

SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA : Sir, I am speaking naturally through the hon. Speaker.

          Now, Sir, that we have the new Home Minister, would the Home Minister send his emissary and start getting the opinion of all the leading citizens in Guwahati, at least, for one day to tackle the problems of terrorism and insurgency there?

MR. SPEAKER: Now, resume your seat, please.

SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA: Secondly,  should we not have a pre-disaster mechanism to deal with the new situation?  Should we not have a uniform post disaster mechanism to tackle terrorist victimization and the trauma that comes later on?

          Sir, the time is short.

MR. SPEAKER: I  am sorry, there is a time constraint.

SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA : Since the time is short, I would just like to end by once again raising  the same question, the question that the people of Assam raised: When will the morning come with the songs  of the cuckoo and nightingale?  Will it ever come?  The onus is on the new Home Minister and I want to convey it through you.

MR. SPEAKER:  Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Now, Kumari Agatha Sangma.  You may come forward. Come here.

 KUMARI AGATHA K. SANGMA (TURA):Thank you, Sir,  for giving me this opportunity to  speak.

          When the hon. Home Minister concluded his speech on the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, myself and my fellow colleagues found us as agitated by the fact that the Assam blasts incident was not even mentioned.  But I also understand the concern of the hon. Home Minister in discussing the Assam blasts separately.

          The North-East Region is a very complex region, and there exist commonalities as well as the differences in the problems that affect different parts of the North-East.  I am glad that we have been given this opportunity by the hon. House to discuss and find solutions for the grave issues that  lie before us.

          When Mumbai was attacked on the 26/11, there is no doubt that it was carried out solely by external elements.  The 30th October attack in Assam, on the other hand, is a part  of a series of bomb blasts, which  has been a regular feature of  insurgent groups and terrorists who have established a nexus with underground elements to destabilize peace in the North-East, and this is what deeply concerns me.

          Sir, I would not like to go into the details of the attacks or any of the previous attacks.  In order to be brief, I would simply like to continue with the reasons for the present situation.  Firstly, the North-East of India shares 4500 kilometre long international border with four countries. This provides for an unrestricted trans-border  movement of the cadres of such extremist groups.

          Sir, as pointed out by my colleague Mr. Kiren Rijiju, I too would like to state that it is essential to expedite the border fencing and strengthen the border security.  This would not only help in ensuring that the access by the militant groups to the safe haven that support anti-India forces are stopped, but it will also help in stopping the illegal immigration from our neighbouring country, that is,  Bangladesh, which  happens to be the second issue.

          The illegal immigrants from our neighbouring country Bangladesh  are threatening the status  of the original inhabitants causing conflicts among the people.[r58]  17.00 hrs.           A system addressing this illegal immigration must be established.

 Finally, I would like to state that the lack of development and the Centre’s neglect has aided the insurgent and the separatist organisations to take roots in the North-East. A vicious circle has now been created. Though Assam and the rest of North-East are very rich in natural resources, it is suffering because of insurgency. No industrial house is willing to set up development projects which will provide employment to the thousands of unemployed youth who have instead become easy prey for the recruitment of terrorist organisations.

By ensuring that the North-East Region is economically uplifted, I believe that the insurgency problem will itself be destroyed.

I would like to conclude by saying that though I represent Garro Hills, and would like to lay my concern for my region, today I stand here as an Indian, as a citizen of this beautiful earth, as a person who believes that every life is sacred and worth fighting for. We, as a nation, stand here united and it is an honour for me that I have an opportunity to show solidarity with the House and stand against and win the fight against terrorism.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you very much.  I compliment you for your maiden speech. Well, I am sure my friend will be happy.

 KUMARI MAMATA BANERJEE (CALCUTTA SOUTH): Sir, we are very much concerned about the North-Eastern Region. I belong to West Bengal but it belongs to India, of course. Ours is the gateway of North-Eastern Region and North-Eastern Region is the gateway of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. Arunachal Pradesh is the gateway of China also.

          It is because of the cross-border terrorism and all these things, in the North-Eastern Region always there have been some problems. We were really shocked. We had seen the bomb blasts in different areas, especially in Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Guwahati, Silchar, Karimganj and in other places. Sir, what we feel is that only security forces cannot give the protection to the people of North-Eastern Region because insurgency problem is there. Cross-border terrorism is there. Foreign currency is in circulation there. There are some other smuggling centers. This is also an illegal operation. So, I think in Manipur, they have their insurgency problem. They have their separate problem. In Mizoram, they have their different problem. In Nagaland, they have their underground Nagas problem. Even in Tripura and Assam, they have their different types of problem. If you take the North-East, it is an eight-sister State now. Sikkim is also a gateway of this. Sikkim is now with this North-Eastern Region.

          I do not think that because of Bangladeshi people, these bomb blasts and all these things are going on. We have to be broad-based. About Bangladeshi, yes, all our people’s language is Bengali. It does not mean that all the Bengali-speaking people are the infiltrated people. That is not there. It is because according to the Indra-Mujib Agreement, whoever the people who came from Bangladesh up to March, 1971, they are very much Indians. Only speaking a language may not be the curse of the society.

 जो हमारे तमिलनाडु और श्री लंका की भाषा बोलने की एडजस्टमेंट है उसी तरह केरल की भाषा बोलने की भी एडजेस्टमेंट है।  I think there it is the same language and same culture. Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka have the same language and same culture. It is same in the case of Bangladesh and West Bengal. Regarding my originality, I am from West Bengal. So, what? Our language, our culture and their culture are the same.  So, we should not identify a particular language speaking people only in this matter. Then the matter would not be solved.

 I think, yes the matter is very serious. The Home Ministry must set up a broad- based Council there. It is not in the name of Security Council. You can include the Ministry of Finance because smuggling operations, drug and what not—everything is going on from there. There are some centers. So, I think the Council should consist of the RAW, CBI, Customs, the different agencies of the Home Ministry, including the intelligence branch of the CBI and the Ministry of External Affairs. Then, you can set up a broad-based Council there. Already, the North-Eastern Development Council is there. My brother says from BJP that it should be a North-Eastern Security Council. But if there is a broad-based Council, we can include the economic problems too, administrative problems--everything. Then, in this matter, we can at least give some life.[m59]            Then, at least, you can get some light. Of course, the Central Government is giving more funds for the North-Eastern region. We know it from the beginning. But the problem, Sir, is that these are border areas and sensitive areas and the extremists get the geographical advantage from there. I have visited all the parts of the North-Eastern region. When I was in the Congress Party, they used to send me everywhere – from Mizoram to Nagaland to Manipur etc. We are also an organised Party. If you see, both the communities there are in trouble. Before the day of Eid, Ramzan – I was there at the Tippu Sultan Mosque – I heard that there was a bomb blast in Agartala, Tripura. So many persons have died. They had been killed because of bomb blast. At the time of Puja, I have seen that so many minority people have been killed also. It happened at the time of Puja. We were really shocked. Even the Assamese brothers and sisters have also been tortured and killed.

          The extremists cannot belong to a community or caste or creed or anything. I think the Government, not only taking our views but sit with all the political parties. I think Bangladesh is going to election on 29th of December. Let us welcome the democratic system in Bangladesh also. We cannot say that Maldives is our enemy because they are encouraging these people, Pakistan is our enemy as they are encouraging these people or Bangladesh is our enemy etc. If we say that every neighbouring country is our enemy, then who will be our friends? We have to create a sense of friendship also. We have to strengthen it. I think that it is better that the Government must take up the matter with Bangladesh, Pakistan etc. in a normal way.  

          Your total line is open on Arunachal border. It is open for Chinese. Even from the economic point of view, I feel that the Government must investigate this. There are so many areas where the Chinese market has dominated our markets also. You see this problem also.

          I think the situation is more serious. Whatever we are talking here is important. I feel that within these two-three words or in four-five minutes, we cannot discuss it in detail. The hon. Minister of Home Affairs was earlier the Finance Minister. He knows how the foreign currency was operating from Siliguri or from Manipur or Nagaland or Mizoram. You please take some proper care, take some time but do it. You take initiative to the foreign countries also and also take initiative within our country also. The cancer is within; inside and outside. We have to look into this very seriously. I think the problem may be solved if we are together. We have to speak only one language. We cannot condemn any language. We should condemn terrorism.

MR. SPEAKER : Thank you. Hon. Members, I have got the names of six hon. Members from the North-East. We have to conclude by 5.35 p.m. I am making an inroad of five minutes. That means only five minutes will be available for each hon. Member. If you are willing to cooperate I will call you. Otherwise, you may rest content with your silence.

          Shri Anwar Hussain to speak now. Please conclude within five minutes.

   

 SHRI ANWAR HUSSAIN (DHUBRI): Thank you, Sir. I will try.

          The serial bomb blast of 30th October is undoubtedly the most dangerous and devastating in comparison to other blasts in the North-Eastern region. There are two types of insurgent forces acting in Assam and North-East. Some are external and some are internal. We know that the external forces are the ISI, HUZI etc. As regards the internal insurgents there are as many as eight active insurgent organizations and nine other units in dormant conditions.

          The Government of India has also recognised the main cause of the insurgency in Assam in respect of internal insurgency. It is nothing but the regional imbalance. The regional imbalance or under-development or slow pace of development is the main cause and the extremist forces have a campaign that – ‘come, take money, be an insurgent, get Assam a free country and you will have everything and they fall prey.’ Sir, that is the reason. [k60]             Sir, in the meantime, the investigating agencies have pointed out that NDFB and ULFA backed by ISI and DGFI are behind the blast of 30th October. Bangladesh has been giving safe shelter and help in establishing and running of training camps of Indian insurgent outfits. In the flag meeting held about one and a half years ago of between BDR and BSF, BSF had submitted a list of 76 insurgent leaders of North-Eastern region living in Bangladesh and as many as 70 camps running there along with a list of six Bangladeshi nationals who were helping the Indian insurgents. A period of one and a half years has elapsed, but they have not taken any action. On our part also, in the case of Mumbai, we have seen that the Government is monitoring actions every day and every minute, but in the case of Assam, one and a half years have elapsed and nothing has been done.

          I would request the hon. Home Minister to put diplomatic pressure on Bangladesh and also raise the issue in international forum. I would also suggest that if they do not cooperate with us, then we should strike the points in the soil of Bangladesh immediately. On the other hand, they should be compelled to hand over 76 insurgent leaders living in Bangladesh. 

          Another important point is that the Home Minister has repeatedly assured us that foolproof fencing will be there in the border areas of Assam and North-Eastern regions. Every time we get this assurance, but the work has not been completed. There are open and unguarded riverine borders which act as points of free access for intruders, terrorists and black-marketeers. Arms and ammunition are being brought and cattle are being sent every day.

MR. SPEAKER: Please conclude. Please cooperate so that we can have the reply of the hon. Minister.

SHRI ANWAR HUSSAIN : Sir, I would request the hon. Home Minister to visit and take action immediately so that the border is fully guarded.

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Rajen Gohain.

SHRI ANWAR HUSSAIN : Sir, I am aware of the time constraint.

MR. SPEAKER: I am very sorry. I do not feel happy at all while limiting the time.

SHRI ANWAR HUSSAIN : In the meantime, the hon. Chief Minister of Assam had talks with the Central Government. Various persons, the Press and organizations had demanded about creating a national investigating agency for terror-related violence, setting up National Security Guard hub in the State and that 50 per cent of the maintenance cost of IRB should be borne by the Union Government for the next ten years.

          Sir, my last point is this.

MR. SPEAKER: Your last point has been there for the last ten minutes. You have only the last point.

SHRI ANWAR HUSSAIN : Sir, I am a Bengali.

अध्यक्ष महोदय : बंगाली तो ठीक है।

SHRI ANWAR HUSSAIN : Sir, I am a Bengali Muslim and we are always alleged ….

MR. SPEAKER: You are a very hon. Member of the House. To me, that is the most important thing.

SHRI ANWAR HUSSAIN : Sir, my contention is that we always want that no Bangladeshi national should be there and every effort should be made to expel all Bangladeshi nationals.

*        The serial bomb-blast of 30 Oct. in Assam is undoubtedly the most dangerous and divesting incident as compared to earliest ones.

ULFA, NDFB, DHD, KLNLF, UPDS etc are very much active in Assam. ULFA wants sovereign country of Assam, and NDFB want sovereign country of Bodoland. The people of the autonomous districts of Karbi-Ang Long and North Cachar hills demand an autonomous state, within the state of Assam.

          People of Assam specially the whole of the youth generation of Assam appear to be totally disillusioned and frustrated for the very very slow pace of development and total absence of development avenues. There is a strong campaign and propaganda by the preaches of insurgent outfits to the effect that the only way out for fast development and employment to all is nothing but an independent country. The helpless and unemployed teenagers are being recruited at the cost of few hundred rupees per month.

I urge upon the parliament and the government, entrust itself with the speedy development and creating employment opportunities for the unemployed youths.

         Is this Assam's problem alone or N. E. R\s problem alone? No, it is not even the problem of India, it is international problem. The question is who and how this problem would be solved. Union government must speak out.

     

*This part of the speech was laid on the Table.

   

          As reported NDFB/ ULFA backed by ISI and DGFI of Bangladesh, ISI, HUZI, etc. are patronizing ULFA, NDFB etc. Everyone knows Bangladesh is the safe heaven for shelter, and establishing and running Training Camps of Indian insurgent outfits. About one and a half year ago, inthe flag meeting between India and Bangladesh, BSF handed over a list of 76 leaders of India insurgent outfits. Living in Bangladesh, a list of 71 training camps in Bangladesh and a list of few Bangladeshi nationals giving full support to the outfits with full details to Bangladesh Rifles BDR. BDR promised that actions would be taken. But nothing was done.

Government of Assam and people of Assam have been pressing hard on the union government to put diplomatic pressure on Bangladesh and also to raise the issue in the international forum. If Bangladesh do not co-operate, I must say that India should strike on the training camps and sheltering places of these outfits in the soil of Bangladesh immediately for self defence only. They must be compelled to hand over the Indian culprits whom they offered safe shelter.

          Repeated assurances are given by the Union Government that border fencing would be completed within an stipulated time but in vain.  Some Portion of open border specially the open and unguarded revirine border are the points of free access of the intruders terrorists, and black marketers.  Arms and ammunitions being brought and at least 1000 cattle are being sent every day.  How can we talk about solving of insurgent problem without meeting the above points?  Let Government tell frankly about it.

          Bangladesh nationals are being identified. But we can not deport them. Because Bangladesh is not accepting them. Let Government speak out how would it handle and solve the problem.

          Internationally, Pakistan and Bangladesh are regarded as our friendly countries. But, they are the most dangerous enemies of India Muslims. And we are with false nation that they are our friends. Now, I want to ask what are the Deccan Muzahideen and Indian Muzahideen? Do these organizations really exist, or are they constituted with Indian terrorist Muslim? Government is the best authority to answer this question. But from the circumstances it appears that these are fake organizations put up by Pakistan terrorists. When Indian muslim refuses to co­operate with them, Pakistani terrorist conspire against Indian muslims In the context of Mumbai blasts, government should investigate all earlier incidents and check up if innocent Indian muslims are made victims in the earlier blasts.

          Take the case of Huzi of Bangladesh. About two months ago, 7 Huzi people were reported to have been killed in my constituency. Print and electronic media, some political parties, and organizations started propaganda that the Muslims of Assam, whom they brand them Bangladeshi, have become Huzi. In the ethnical clash of 3rd to 5th Oct and the blast of 30th Oct. the Muslims of Assam, whom they brand as Bangladeshi were suspected and wide and loud publicity were given, The CO. of army Mr Shekhawat told that the 7 killed persons were not Huzis. During both the incident, it was only Shri Tarun Gogai, Hon'ble CM ., who refuted all charges brought against the muslims of Assam and told clearly that NDFB was behind the 30th October blast with the help of some foreign terrorists.

          Talks should be held immediately in peaceful atmosphere. If and when coming to talk they must surrender their arms and must remain confined in designated camps. The Cease fire with NDFB expires on 31.12.08 Government must examine, the sincerely, trust worthiness of NDFB if Government think of about extending cease fire limit.

          Cutting across political line sacrificing vested political interest let us be united to regard it as national problem and make the hands of the Government strong to solve the problem permanently. Central Government should support the proposal of the hon'ble CM. Assam (i) to create a National Investigating agency for terror related violence(ii) to set up a National Security guard hub in the state (iii) Union Government should bear 50% of the maintenance cost of IRB for next 10 years.*                                      श्री राजेन गोहेन (नौगांव): माननीय अध्यक्ष महोदय, आपने मुझे बोलने का मौका दिया, इसके लिए मैं आपका धन्यवाद करता हूँ। इस सदन में मुम्बई ब्लास्ट्स पर भी चर्चा हुई। उस चर्चा में सभी राजनीतिक दलों ने अपने मतभेद छोड़कर एकजुट होकर आतंकवाद के खिलाफ़ लड़ने की भावना  की जो अभिव्यक्ति की, वह देश के लिए सही संकेत है, ऐसा मैं मानता हूँ। [h61]            अगर मुंबई घटना पर ही ध्यान देकर देश में सुरक्षा-व्यवस्था की जाए और असम की समस्या को सामने नहीं लाया जाए तो मेरा मन कहता है कि यह देश असल में सुरक्षित नहीं हो पाएगा। इसलिए आज सदन में मैं संक्षेप में बताना चाहता हूं कि जो सुरक्षा-व्यवस्था आप बनाने जा रहे हैं, असम की घटना को सामने रख कर ही सुरक्षा-व्यवस्था तैयार करनी चाहिए, क्योंकि असम की घटना थोड़ी अलग है, मुंबई से काफी फर्क है। हम लोग पाकिस्तान को अपना शत्रु देश मान लेते हैं, परन्तु हम बंग्लादेश को उस हिसाब से देखते नहीं हैं। बंग्लादेश पाकिस्तान से हमारे देश को कम हानि नहीं कर रहा है, उससे शायद ज्यादा ही कर रहा है। हमारे सभी मित्रों ने अपने भाषण में बताया कि बंग्लादेश ने, नार्थ-ईस्ट के जितने भी एक्स्ट्रीमिस्ट ग्रुप्स हैं, उन लोगों की मदद की। आईएसआई बंग्लादेश में बैठ कर नार्थ-ईस्ट के पूरे एक्स्ट्रीमिस्ट्स तथा विदेशों के ग्रुप्स को कंट्रोल कर रहा है। ये सब देखने के बावजूद भी अगर हम बंग्लादेश को सबक नहीं सिखाएं तो मेरा मन कहता है कि इस तरह पाकिस्तान अगर कंट्रोल भी हो जाएगा तो दूसरा एक्स्ट्रीमिस्ट्स को बढ़ावा देने वाला बंग्लादेश बन जाएगा।

          अध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं सदन को बताना चाहता हूं कि यह जो वोट बैंक की राजनीति है, देश की सुरक्षा के लिए जो भी सिद्धान्त अपनाना है, मैं समझता हूं कि वोट बैंक की राजनीति सामने रखने से वह सिद्धान्त कभी सही नहीं होगा। आज जैसे इसी सदन में हमारे असम में 1979 में आसु ने जो आंदोलन किया था, वह छ: साल चला था। उस आंदोलन में असम की जनता की यही मांग थी कि पड़ौसी देश से लोग आकर हमारे अधिकार ले जा रहे हैं, हम अपने ही देश में, घर में बेघर होने जा रहे हैं, इसीलिए हमें बचाइए। उस समय आंदोलन के परिणामस्वरूप इस सदन से जो राजनीतिक षडयंत्र असम के खिलाफ हुआ है, उसका परिणाम आज हम लोगों को भुगतना पड़ रहा है। उस समय देश की जो कानून-व्यवस्था थी, उस कानून से बंग्लादेशी या विदेशी शिनाख्त करने के बजाए उसे दबा कर दूसरा कानून बना लिया। उस कानून से आपने किस की मदद की, उस कानून से, शायद अपने देश की मदद नहीं की, जो बंग्लादेशी हैं, उन्हें खुश करने के लिए यहां से इस तरह का कानून बन गया, जिससे आज असम के लोग अपनी आईडेंटिटी खो रहे हैं। अभी जो असम में सरकार है, यह घटना किस ने की, अभी तक सरकार उसे खोज नहीं पाई कि इस घटना के पीछे कौन है। हमारे मित्र किरिप चालिहा जी ने कहा कि लोकल इंसरजैन्स ग्रुप उस बम ब्लास्ट के पीछे इन्वाल्व था। अभी असम में जो सरकार है, उस सरकार ने प्राइम सस्पेक्ट के हिसाब से जिसे पकड़ कर रखा है, उसका नाम ... * है। वह कांग्रेस सेवादल का एक एक्टीविस्ट है। ...( व्यवधान) मेरे पास उसका फोटोग्राफ है।...( व्यवधान)

SHRI ANWAR HUSSAIN : Sir, how can he take names here? … (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: I would not allow that name, Mr. Gohain. Strike out the name.

… (Interruptions)

श्री राजेन गोहेन : अध्यक्ष जी, मैंने यह कोई गलत बात नहीं बताई, इसमें साफ दिखाई देता है।...( व्यवधान)

MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Gohain, the time allotted to you is over. Now, I would request Shri Khagen Das to start speaking on the subject before us.

… (Interruptions)

श्री राजेन गोहेन : अध्यक्ष जी, मुझे एक मिनट बोलने दीजिए।...( व्यवधान)

MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Gohain, please take your seat.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI KHAGEN DAS (TRIPURA-WEST): Sir, at the outset … (Interruptions)

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINES (SHRI B.K. HANDIQUE): Sir, the name should be deleted from the records.

MR. SPEAKER: The name has been deleted.

… (Interruptions)

श्री राजेन गोहेन : अध्यक्ष जी, मैंने कोई गलत बात नहीं बताई, सही बात बताई है।...( व्यवधान)

MR. SPEAKER: I had made an appeal to all the hon. Members to conclude within five minutes each. Otherwise, I will have to restrict other Members.

… (Interruptions)

     

* Not recorded as ordered by the Chair.

 SHRI KHAGEN DAS : Sir, kindly allow me to speak for a couple of minutes, and then I would ask your permission to lay my speech.[r62]  Sir, I will straight way put the question as to why the North-Eastern States are categorised as special category States. Why are North-Eastern States most economically backward even after 61 years of Independence? The people of the North-Eastern States raised their voice against terrorists time and again and appealed to the Central Government to take appropriate action, not to save the Left Front Government of Tripura or any other State but, for the unity and integrity of the country. However, that was not properly addressed. We also told the Central Government, while I was a member of the other House, that if the Central Government chose to remain indifferent to the situation of the North-Eastern States the result was sure to be disastrous for the entire country.

          The serial blasts in Assam and Tripura are a continuation of the anti-national acts which were witnessed in other parts of the country in the recent past. Tripura, which earlier had witnessed a severe spell of insurgency and violence, had never witnessed such type of explosions. We feel very much disturbed by this act of savagery by the anti-national forces. Time has come to identify those forces and take stern action against those who have committed this dastardly act.

          It is a matter of great concern that the two major national parties made electoral adjustments in Parliament and Assembly elections with the front organisations of banned outfits in Tripura. This is unfortunate. Time and again it was brought to the notice of the central leaders of both the parties, it is on record, that there can be no long-term solution to militancy in the North-Eastern States unless the terrorist infrastructure in Bangladesh is demolished. As per reports available, 25 camps of ATTF and NLTF terrorists are operating in Bangladesh. Immediate and intensive diplomatic pressure is required to be mounted for immediate neutralisation of all the terrorist camps located in Bangladesh.

          I would urge upon the Government to rise to the occasion to meet the demands, genuine and urgent demands, of the North-Eastern States without any further loss of time for strengthening the unity and integrity of the country.

          Sir, I would request you to please allow me to lay the rest of my speech.

MR. SPEAKER: Yes, of course.

*SHRI KHAGEN DAS: I strongly condemn the recent serial blasts that have taken place in Assam and Tripura killing over eighty people in Assam and injuring many others in both the States. These blasts are a continuation of the anti-national terror acts witnessed in various parts of the country in the recent past.

I convey my heartfelt sympathies to those who lost their family members in this  dastardly attack.

Tripura which earlier had witnessed severe spell of insurgency and violence, had never in the past been targeted with such type of explosions. So the people of Tripura felt very much concerned for this act of savage by the anti-national forces.

Time has come to identify and take steps against the forces who have perpetrated these heinous crimes.

Here we can re-collect that more than four decades, the North-East States have become the breeding grounds of terrorists at the behest of ISI and other external forces as well as anti-national elements in the country.

Coming to Tripura situation, I would like to apprise the House that when the Left front Govt. for the first time came to power in Tripura in 1978, a serious communal violence took place in 1980.

The background of this violence was that a “Regional Tribal party” of the State held a Conference in Taidu, South Tripura in March 1980 where a top most Congress leader was also present.

 

* This part of the Speech was laid on the Table.

   

In the Conference, a Resolution was adopted to the effect that “those who came to Tripura after 15th September, 1949, they must leave the State. They raised the slogal for “deportation of foreigners” and gave “a call for continuous Bazar boycott for seven days” in the month of June 1980.

The Congress leader which addressing the Conference said that “Tripura should be made free from foreigners”.

Subsequently “Bazar boycott call” turned into a serious communal violence.

In that violence-several hundred tribals and non-tribals were killed. Thousands of houses were burnt and thousands of people of both communities took shelter in relief camps. The left parties along with secular democratic and peace loving people had  been campaigning continuously for maintaining peace and harmony which was the need of the hour. On the other hand the main opposition parties demanded “President’s Rule” in the State.

At the same time, one of the top most leaders of the said “Regional Party” had gone in hiding and took shelter in Bangladesh. He formed a terrorist organization viz, TNV and started giving arms training to a section of tribal youth with a view of create terror in the State and de-stabilize the Left Front Govt.

He also raised the slogan for ‘Independent Tripura” and resorted to barbaric and mindless killing.

In the same period, a movement was launched in some parts of North-East States by some organizations for so-called deportation of foreigners to separate North-East Region from India which was the game plan of CIA “Operation Brhamputra”.

In 1988, the said TNV leader surrendered to the Government. Subsequently, two terrorist outfits viz. ATTF and NLFT were formed.

They also raised the slogan for Independent Tripura. Operating from Bangladesh, these outfits had been indulging in killings, kidnappings extortions and all sorts of anti-social and anti-national activities.

Hundreds of CPI(M) leaders, workers and supporters including Minister, MLA, ADC member were killed by the terrorists.

Many security personnel also sacrificed their lives in counter insurgency operation. Later on, these two outfits were banned. It is a matter of great concern that both the major national parties made electoral adjustments in Parliament and Assembly elections in Tripura with the frontal organization of banned outfit.

There has been a significant success in containing the level of terrorism in the State. But it also shows a sign of resilence largely because of this network in Bangladesh and due to link among the North-East terrorist groups; interrogations reports continue to suggest that the elements of Pak ISI are active in Bangladesh and attempt is being made to bring different anti-India elements of North East States under one umbrella.

There can be no long term solution to militancy in North East States unless terrorist infrastructure in Bangladesh is demolished.

As per reports available, 25 camps of ATTF and NLFT terrorist outfits are in Bangladesh. Immediate and intensive diplomatic pressure is required to be mounted for immediate neutralization of all the terrorist camps of North East States in Bangladesh.

Another disturbing trend is also being notified. It is reported that many leaders of terrorist groups of North East States have taken to Pakistan and Afganistan for training particularly in explosives.

Reports of arrested terrorists in connection with the serial blasts in Agartala on 1.10.2008 revealed that ISI modules in Bangladesh are involved in persuading and motivating Indian terrorists groups for bomb blasts in their area of influence. Training on explosives was given to Indian terrorist groups in Bangladesh. Explosives were brought into Agartala from Bangaladesh.

In the context of bomb blasts at Agartala, I strongly demand that there is an immediate need for deployment of more BSF base in Tripura and other North-East States for proper guarding of  long international border.

The Bomb explosion at Agartala must be seen as an attempt to de-stablise the situation in the State and undermine the success of the Left Front Government in tackling terrorism.

Time has come for all sections of the people and political circles to raise against any sectarian and narrow interest and ensure that the unity and integrity of the country is safeguarded by curbing all sorts of terrorism.

I would also urge upon the Union Government to rise to meet the genuine and urgent demands of the North-East States without any further loss of time for strengthening the unity and integrity of the country.

                                                                                     

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Suklabaidya, if you have written speech, you can lay it on the Table also.

 

 SHRI LALIT MOHAN SUKLABAIDYA (KARIMGANJ):  As there is time constraint, I would complete my speech within two or three minutes.

          A few days back, we witnessed a long discussion here in this House on terrorism. We condemned all sorts of terrorism and killing by terrorists and paid our homage to the innocent people who had been killed.  Sir, a positive outcome was that we are united in the House and we resolved that we should remain united to fight against the menace of terrorism. And also by that, we are enabled to rebuild our national character which is required to enable us to attain peace and  prosperity in the country following  the principle of unity in diversity.

          Regarding terrorism, we have had a discussion earlier and since there is no time, my only appeal is that let us be united in the House once again and serial blasts in Assam and other places should be condemned by all. We should at least gear up our intelligence agencies so that the people and terrorists from Bangladesh cannot come to our country to attack us because the Mumbai blasts were an external aggression. Similarly, serial blasts in Assam are also an external aggression and  that should be resisted by us and that should be done unitedly.  So, what is our duty? We have to, rather create awareness among the people about the menace of terrorist and at the same time, we have to request all concerned to live in peace for prosperity and without quarreling among ourselves.    I am telling this point for this reason because in the House, it is also pointed out that Bengali-speaking people sometimes in many places are called Bangladeshi.  But people of a State  for economic reasons migrate from one place to another.  He may be Hindu or Muslim for his livelihood.   This type of people who are the citizens of the country should not be harassed. Otherwise, this will ignite another trouble. 

          I request once again everybody to let us be united to fight all these things.

*During the discussion on the terrorists attack in Mumbai almost all aspects of terrorism were discussed.  The design of terrorist act in Mumbai clearly establish that is nothing but external aggression directly on sovereignty.

Similarly terrorists in the serial blasts in Assam are people from neighbouring county, where they are camping and being trained as Jihadis.

The insurgency that we witnessed in North East is completely different that the one experienced today because of its nature of attack. The nature of attack of the extremists earlier was a particular target.

Now the terrorists have become just instruments to operate on instructions and cause destruction.

But now the nature of attack is to kill maximum number of people, to create maximum terror and to damage maximum property in order to shatter the economy and discredit the Government.

The serial blasts in Assam last October bombs were planted in very busy market places. NE, particularly Assam has experienced terrorism since last three decades which caused enormous harm to the development of the State. The then Government  during which  period the  terrorism  started in  the State did not give enough thought  to the repeating incidents. As a result all development was stopped and the rate of growth came down to 3 per cent, unemployment rate rose very high. About eight years back when the present Chief Minister took over, the Govt. had no Means to pay salaries to the employees and it was almost in a state of bankruptcy. The present Chief Minister made earnest efforts and has become successful in getting some groups of militants back to the mainstream and expedite the rate of growth by overcoming a lot of hurdles.  In collaboration with the Central Government, the present Government has been able to bring the situation to a certain level of control and as such we find the number of extremist   *……* This part of the Speech was laid on the Table.

     

organizations in NE came down from 3 dozens to eight only, some of the extremists have let down their arms, some declared unilateral cease fire.

Since today’s discussion is on the situation arising out of bomb blasts in various parts of North Eastern States, with particular reference to Assam, it is matter of regret that people, in this three decades of insurgency, did not consider this to be a serious matter, we did not stand united rather regarded them to be isolated incidents.

Now, we stand united to fight  all sorts of terrorism.  This is a very good sign for the State of Assam.

 The incidents of clashes between Bodo and Muslims in Udalguri resulted from the issue of deportation of some persons declared by the Hon’ble High Court as Bangladeshi. These clashes took many lives of Hindus and Muslims.

In dealing with a situation like this one must keep in mind that all Muslims and all Hindus are not Bangaladeshi.  They have the right to purchase properties and work.  For economic reason people can move from one part to other and settle down for their livelihood.  So, the harassment of the people of any sort will ignite troubles like this.  We condemn whatever happened in Udalguri district.  The Govt. has promptly acted by deploying additional force, firing on the unruly mobs and declaring curfew and controlled the situation.  But this Govt. has also its limitation because the average number of police is less than all India average and there is also huge number of vacancies in Police Dept which could not be filled up for different court cases.

However, the present Government has increased the police force by about ten thousand from 2006 to 2008 – still there are vacancies of eight thousand.

My request to all – let us stand united forgetting out Party affiliation to create awareness among the people about the menace of Terrorism and help the Government jointly to eradicate Terrorism from the State and the Country as well.

*SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL (DIBRUGARH) : Sir, I would like to thank you for allowing me to discuss the incidents of bomb blast that took place on the 30th October in Assam.  I would also like to thank Hon. Home Minister for openly admitting Government’s failure to curb Terrorist’s attack in Mumbai.  But today we hoped that our Hon. Prime Minister who represents Assam as well as the Chairperson of the UPA Mrs. Sonia Gandhi would also participate in the discussion to express their concern. But their conspicuous absence has really demoralized us.

          Hon. Speaker Sir, today all the hon. Members who have participated in this discussion have expressed that, because of Bangladesh, we are facing such incidents. Hon. Home Minister Sir, while being the Home Minister of our country, you are also a well-known jurist. I feel that we must pressurise Bangladesh diplomatically to prevent inflow of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to our country.  They are taking advantage because of the non-implementation of Assam accord.

          Hon. Minister of State for Home Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal has already given details in Rajya Sabha about the existence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.  He has stated that due to the presence of about fifty lakhs of Bangladeshi nationals in Assam, the demographic pattern of the state has changed. This has created serious problem for the indigenous people of the state and the genuine Indian citizens are living in a state of insecurity.  The Indian Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the incidents that had taken place on 30th October.  This is an international issue.  This issue should not be brushed aside as an issue of Assam only.  The bomb  blasts of  Assam  should invite  the  same amount  of  Government/Media attention as  the Mumbai incident.  Through you, hon. Speaker, Sir, I would like to draw the attention of  the hon. Home Minister to the fact that ‘Assam Accord’ was     * English Translation of the Speech originally delivered in Assamese.

signed in the presence of late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi. Because of his strong will this accord was signed and the people of Assam were given assurance in 1985, from the ramparts of the Red Fort that they should not worry about their future. Illegal Bangladeshi migrants would be detected and deported to Bangladesh and the interests of the indigenous Assamese people would be protected.  It was assured that the Secular Assamese Society would be protected at any cost.  People belonging to every caste, creed and religion would be given rights to live with dignity.  But unfortunately due to the non-implementation of Assam Accord the situation has assumed dangerous proportion.  We have not been able even to seal the border.  Many of our Hon.Members have said that it is a serious administrative flaw on the part of the Government of India, that has led to the failure to protect our border. The Government should  take this issue very seriously.  I take this opportunity to invite our Hon.Minister for Home to visit our border areas at the earliest.  You will definitely realise the situation.  One more thing I would like to say sir, we consider Bangladesh as a friendly country.  But you would be surprised to know that our request for stationing a ship as a floating border outpost in Brahmaputra was turned down by Bangladesh. We are yet to have any riverine patrolling. 

          So we should not consider Bangladesh as an economically weak country.  It has posed a serious threat to our nation. That is why I appeal you to grant due respect to the Assam accord and implement it at the earliest. 

           

DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA (INNER MANIPUR): Sir, I rise to join the discussion on the situation arising out of the bomb blasts in various parts of North Eastern States with particular reference to Assam.

          It was on 26th November when we have all declared that there was a war on Mumbai; it was actually a war on humanity. That led to this discussion. Indeed we are very happy that the House was unanimous to condemn terror. At that time, we remembered 30th October, when there was a series of blasts in various parts of Assam.

          Going back to that, we always condemned this. We know that there are forces from within and from outside. I would not dwell into those details because all my friends have discussed about them. I will come directly to the State to which I belong, Manipur, which is also having the same problem as this. The root cause of the problem of my State is this and I would like to put that in a very short form.

          There are two reasons – one is insurgency problem. Of course, in Manipur, bomb blasts took place on three occasions this year. One happened in a very secured area where all the Ministers stay; even the house of the Chief Minister was not spared. On October 21st, in a place known as Ragailong, 17 persons were killed on the spot, in one blast. This is a very sad happening. We all condemn this; we are very sorry for this; we respect the souls that are no more.

          In Manipur, daily killings have become an appetite for them; we read in daily newspapers and we simply say sorry for them. There are many groups in insurgents. We have been trying to solve this problem. The Government of India, rightfully started doing something for solving the insurgency problem by promulgating the very infamous Act, Special Armed Forces Act of 1958, right from Nagaland. Now, it is extended to other parts of the country including Jammu and Kashmir, but it is not the solution to the problem so far.

          In the beginning of the tenure of this UPA Government, it had formed a Committee under Justice Jeevan Reddy. It had clearly recommended for the repeal of the Act. We always recommend that this Act should be repealed because there are many other laws to tackle the situation.

          Another reason for the insurgent movement in Manipur is because of our territorial integrity. I have been telling right through the tenure of this Lok Sabha that Manipur and Tripura were sovereign States. So, when we joined India in 1949, we had got very clear geographical boundaries. [p63]  This cannot be compromised at any cost.  Many times a number of Members here in the House have tried to disturb this particular philosophy.  We are against it.  There shall be no compromise at all on the territorial integrity of Manipur.  When we join the Union of India, we are a sovereign State.  These are the basic two reasons as to why the problem has not been solved so far.   We cannot solve it unless we address it properly.   A lot of money is going to the State but no work could be done properly because of the insurgent problem there.  Once this problem is solved, perhaps Manipur will return to its bright future. 

          I always feel that killings or violence cannot solve any problem. However difficult a problem may be, it always has a solution.  The best solution can be through peaceful negotiation, sitting across the table and finding the solution by non-violent means.  Today the whole world is a small global village and in this age we are thinking of killing each other.  This will never solve the problem.

          With the new Hon. Home Minister here, we have got high hopes that he will be able to tackle this problem.  At the very beginning of his assuming Office, we have joined him in apologising to the nation that perhaps there had been some lapses and these lapses should not continue and these things would not recur in future.

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, all political parties have spoken and all the Members from the North-East, who wanted to speak, have been accommodated.

          Now, I call the hon. Home Minister. 

SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY : Sir, I have just one small request to make.… (Interruptions)

अध्यक्ष महोदय :  बैसीमुथियारी जी, डिबेट आपने ही शुरू की है, आप बोलने वालों में पहले नम्बर पर थे।

...( व्यवधान)

MR. SPEAKER: Let the Minister speak first.  If there is any clarification needed, you can seek it later on.  Let us not establish a new procedure.

… (Interruptions)

श्री रामदास आठवले (पंढरपुर) :  अध्यक्ष महोदय, मुझे भी एक मिनट बोलने का मौका दीजिए।...( व्यवधान)

MR. SPEAKER: We have given you full sympathy as you are coming from Mumbai and that has been recorded.

 THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM):  Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am grateful to Shri Bwismuthiary and 21 other hon. Members who have participated in this debate.  My first debate as Home Minister was on the Mumbai blasts and my second debate as Home Minister is on the Assam blasts.  It is not a very happy circumstance but I want to assure all hon. Members, especially those from North-East, that Assam and North-East problems are as important to me as the problems that we have found in Mumbai and other parts of India.  The fact that we discussed Mumbai blasts first and Assam blasts second does not mean that we are relegating the problems of Assam or North-East.

MR. SPEAKER: That was also agreed in the meeting of the Leaders of Parties.

SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: We are very much concerned about this. In the last couple of days while preparing for this debate, I have reasonably familiarized myself with the issues and I will presently tell you what I intend to do about these issues.

          Firstly, to set the record straight on fact, I just want to state a few facts about the blasts that took place in Assam on October 30, 2008 and in Manipur and Tripura around that period.

          Sir, on the morning of October 30, 2008, bomb blasts occurred in Guwahati and some other places in Assam.  Following the blasts, the Central Government and the State Government were in constant touch with each other and the Central Government offered assistance to the State Government.  The Army authorities were also immediately alerted, requested to assist the State Government and to hold flag marches wherever required.  In addition to the Central Security Forces already deployed on a permanent basis, 14 companies of the  Central Security Forces were provided to the Government of Assam. Teams from the National Security Guards and post blast investigation experts of IB were immediately made available to the State Government. 

          Blasts took place in Guwahati city, Kokrajhar, Barpeta and Bongaigaon.  A number of hon. Members have spoken about the deaths and injured.  These are the correct numbers.  On that day, 89 persons died and 545 persons were injured.[R64]  In Guwahati, it was 54 killed and 215 injured; in Kokrajhar, 20 killed and 155 injured; in Barpeta, 15 lost their lives and 164 were injured; and in Bongaigaon, 11 persons were injured.  It is deeply regrettable that so many precious lives should have been lost and so many more were injured in these horrific bomb blasts.

          As the hon. Members are aware, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister visited Guwahati.  The Home Minister also visited Barpeta and Kokrajhar on the very next day.

          A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by the State Government.  Twenty-five persons suspected to be involved in the conspiracy and in the facilitation and execution of the blasts have been arrested so far.  The main culprits who are suspected to have perpetrated the crime have been identified and a determined drive has been launched to apprehend them.

          Based on the evidence gathered during the course of the investigation, Government suspects the involvement of members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). As hon. Members are aware, these two organisations have been banned.  There are also inputs to suggest the involvement of the Bangladesh based terrorist outfit Harkat-ul-Jehad-Islami (HUJI).  Investigations are continuing and the progress is being closely reviewed and monitored.

          ULFA is a banned organisation.  Counter insurgency operations against ULFA are being carried out in a sustained and coordinated manner.  Cadres of 2 companies of the so-called 28th Battalion of ULFA have unilaterally declared suspension of violence.  Some cadres have also come into designated camps. NDFB is also a banned organisation. There is a Suspension of Operations Agreement concluded in June 2005 and which has been renewed from time to time and is currently valid till December 31, 2008.  The security forces and agencies have been asked to take strict action against NDFB cadres who are found to indulge in violent activities.

          Sir, there was a reference to why a CBI inquiry has not been ordered so far.  It is true that an all-party meeting recommended a CBI inquiry.  On the 28th of November, 2008, the Government of Assam made a reference to the Central Government but they have not yet furnished the list of cases and the case numbers.  I have given instructions that the Government of Assam should furnish all the particulars of cases by tomorrow, i.e., 16th of December, 2008.  Once that is received in the Government of India, I have instructed that orders should issue transferring the cases to the CBI by the 18th of December. So, by 6 p.m. of 18th of December, I expect to be able to complete this exercise. 

          Sir, there were also bomb blasts in Tripura and Manipur.  Bomb blasts took place in Tripura at different places in East and West Agartala on October 1, 2008 in which 76 persons were injured, four of them critically.  Additional forces were deployed in Agartala city.  Teams from the National Security Guards and other agencies visited the blast sites to gather evidence.  The investigation has been taken over by the CID of the Government of Tripura.  The identities of the accused have been established and two of them have been arrested while efforts are being made to apprehend the remaining three.  A vehicle had also been seized.  No group has so far taken responsibility for the bomb blasts.  However, evidence collected in the course of investigations indicates that the bomb blasts were planned by the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF). There is evidence to show that three of the accused received training on assembling IEDs.  As hon. Members are aware, ATTF is also a banned organisation. Its headquarters are located in Satchari in Bangladesh.  Three of the accused are reported to be in Bangladesh.

          In Manipur, on October 21, 2008, an explosion took place at Ragailong Bazaar in Imphal West District.  Eleven persons died on the spot and four more succumbed to their injuries later, besides, 31 persons were injured.  The State Government has announced compensation to the next of kin of those killed as well as to those injured.  The Central Government has also offered compensation under our extant Scheme.[R65]  Patrolling has been intensified and, apart from regular forces, Police Commandos have also been deployed at vulnerable crossings. Kangleipak Communist Party KCP/MC (Lalhaba group) has claimed responsibility for the blast and the justification given was that the crowd that had gathered in the Bazaar had been indulging in “lagao” which was not good for Manipur society. In the on-going operations against KCP/MC, the State Police of Manipur has neutralized a number of cadres belonging to that group.

          A meeting of the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of all the States in the North Eastern Region was convened on November 5, 2008. After reviewing the security situation, it was decided that a regional mechanism would be established for sharing intelligence and coordinating the operations. I intend to conduct a comprehensive review of the security situation in the North East, especially Assam, Tripura and Manipur. In the course of the review, we shall also review our approach to deal with various insurgent groups and banned organizations including ULFA, NDFB and ATTF and KCP/MC.

          We continue to be concerned that the territory of our neighbour, Bangladesh is being used by Indian Insurgent Groups to plan and execute terrorist acts against India and the Indian people. The Government of Bangladesh has repeatedly assured that they would not allow their territory to be used by the Indian Insurgent Groups. However, the regrettable fact is that many leaders of the Indian Insurgent Groups continue to use Bangladesh as a safe haven. It is our expectation that Bangladesh will implement its commitments and assurances not to permit the use of its territory for such actions or allow sanctuary to such militant groups.

          The activities of HUJI are also a matter of concern. HUJI has sponsored and supported terrorist activities in India. The Government of Bangladesh has a duty to control the activities of HUJI and to apprehend its leaders who are responsible for the terrorist activities. There are intelligence inputs to believe that HUJI is coordinating its activities with ULFA, NDFB and some other organizations.

          I recognise that there is a need to periodically review our policy to deal with the Indian Insurgent Groups that have been responsible for the numerous acts of violence and terrorism in the North East. I welcome suggestions from hon. Members that would help Government in this regard. I wish to say that we intend to act resolutely in implementing the policy to deal with and put an end to the activities of the Indian Insurgent Groups.

          Sir, there are only three to four issues on which I wish to offer some answers. Firstly, I do not think we should allow any partisan element to be injected in a debate on the North East. As Shri Chandrappan rightly pointed out, different political parties have held the reins both in the Centre and in the concerned State Governments. If at the end of 10 or 20 years of our experience dealing with militancy in the North East, it is our collective judgment that we have failed, it is a collective failure. If there has been some measure of success in some areas, especially, largely in Arunachal Pradesh, almost completely in Mizoram and Meghalaya, it is a collective success. I completely endorse what comrade Chandrappan said. There is no reason or justification to introduce any partisanship in the matter. There has been limited collective success. There have been many collective failures. The question is, what is the path forward?

          Sir, firstly, on insurgency I wish to make one thing clear. Notwithstanding other problems, which I will deal with presently, let us not forget that Indian Insurgent Groups are present and active in the North East.  [R66]    These are Indians belonging to one tribe or the other and one State or the other but they are nevertheless Indians.  They are not foreigners.  They are Indian insurgent groups.  They are misguided, misdirected Indian insurgent groups carrying on insurgent activities.  As long as there is insurgency, let me make this clear, security forces will be deployed and they will fight these insurgent groups.  Lives will be lost on the side of the insurgents and on the side of the security forces.  But in order to defend India’s sovereignty and integrity, as long as there is insurgency, we have to deploy security forces and the security forces will fight these insurgents.

          Now, coming to larger issues, hon. Members have rightly identified the issues.  These are tardy progress and not completing border fencing, illegal immigration from Bangladesh, lack of development for a variety of reasons, the perception that there is pervasive corruption and finally, tardiness in implementing the national identity card scheme.  These are broadly the issues which all hon. Members have identified.  These issues have no party colour.  These are issues on which all of us are agreed.  We are all agreed that border fencing should be completed as quickly as possible, that we must pay attention to development, we must stamp out corruption, we must quicken the process of issuing the national identity card and finally, we must find a solution to the problem of illegal immigration and incomplete implementation of the Assam Accord. 

          Hon. Members, I hope, will concede that, at this stage,  I am at least aware of the problems.  I have identified the problems and I will deal with them with the best of my ability.   When I was the Minister of State, I started border fencing in Punjab and we completed the bulk of it.  That paid rich dividends and helped us control militancy in Punjab.  We have just initiated border fencing in the North –East.  I can give you numbers but that is not important today.  What I need to come up with is a comprehensive plan to deal with these five issues which the hon. Members have identified.   

          Finally, there is the issue of Bangladesh.  I do not wish to say more than what I have said in my statement.  I have chosen my words carefully. The message must go to Bangladesh that it is duty bound to honour its commitments and assurances.  Bangladesh cannot allow its territory to be used as a safe haven for Indian insurgent groups.  Bangladesh must realise that in the long run, it is hurting itself if it does not enjoy good relations with India and if the borders  between India and Bangladesh are not secure and free from insurgency and militancy. I will deal with these issues in the next weeks and months with the help of my colleagues in the Government and the directions of the Prime Minister.  But I wish to assure all sections of the House, especially hon. Members from the North-East, that the issues there are quite grave, they are engaging my attention and we will deal with them taking into account the valuable suggestions made by the hon. Members. … (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER:  Everyone cannot put a question.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER:   He is unstoppable and so, I will ask him to speak.

श्री सानछुमा खुंगुर बैसीमुथियारी :  मेरा एक सुझाव है। जिस तरह मुम्बई घटना के बाद हमने पाकिस्तान को अपनी जमीन आतंकवादियों के इस्तेमाल ने करने देने के लिए यहां सर्वसम्मति से प्रस्ताव पास किया था। वैसा ही एक प्रस्ताव बांग्लादेश के लिए भी पास करना चाहिए और बांग्लादेश सरकार को भी चेतावनी देनी चाहिए कि वह अपनी जमीन हिन्दुस्तान के खिलाफ आतंकवादियों को इस्तेमाल न करने दे।

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Minister has made abundantly clear the stand of the Government and his own stand of the Ministry. Therefore, your concern has been more than addressed.

… (Interr[U67] uptions)   SHRI KIREN RIJIJU (ARUNACHAL WEST): I had raised one important point.  … (Interruptions) I made one important point in my intervention.  We are happy with all the assurances made by the Home Minister in his reply. 

          One important issue is the nexus between the politicians and the ultras. It is being reported from time to time and it is in the knowledge of the Government also. What is the intention of the hon. Minister with regard to this important point?

SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL : Sir, regarding the hoisting of Pakistani flag in Assam, what is the stand of the Government of India?

MR. SPEAKER: Who can support that?

          Shri Ramdas Athawale.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Ramdas Athawale, where are you sitting?

… (Interruptions)

SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE : I want to come forward. … (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: What did Shri Athawale say?

SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: Shri Athawale says that he wants to come forward. … (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: I hope people send you again.  Take permission from me.  Otherwise, I would not allow this.

SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE : Sir, can I speak from this seat?

अध्यक्ष महोदय : अच्छा ठीक है।

श्री रामदास आठवले : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मुम्बई पर हमला हुआ और पाकिस्तान सरकार को अल्टीमेटम दे दिया। असम और नार्थ ईस्ट प्रदेशों पर जो हमले होते हैं, चाहे नक्सलवादी हमले हैं, चाहे माओवादी हमले हैं या वहां के इंटरनल लोग भी हैं और जानकारी मिली है कि बंगलादेश से भी आतंकवादी आते हैं, इसलिए जिस प्रकार से पाकिस्तान सरकार को अल्टीमेटम दिया है, उसी तरह भारत सरकार द्वारा बंगलादेश की सरकार को अल्टीमेटम देने की आवश्यकता है।

MR. SPEAKER: It is the same point.

श्री रामदास आठवले : बंगलादेश से जो आतंकवादी आते हैं, उन्हें रोकने का काम बंगलादेश की सरकार को करना चाहिए, नहीं तो बंगलादेश सरकार को भी अल्टीमेटम देने की जरूरत है। भारत सरकार ने बंगलादेश की मदद की है। भारत ने चाइना की बहुत बार मदद की और चाइना ने हमारे ऊपर हमला किया।...( व्यवधान)

अध्यक्ष महोदय : ठीक है, आपकी बात पूरी हो चुकी है।

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Now, the House will take up item no. 23.  Shri Oscar Fernandes.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: No more discussion on this subject.  I have already taken up the next item.

… (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Home Minister will deal with it.  Not everytime questions and answers can be given like this. Do not introduce new systems.