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GUWAHATI, March 22 – The All Assam Students Union (AASU) has expressed its consternation over media reports about Bokakhat MLA Jiten Gogoi and Thowra MLA Kushal Duori carrying out assaults on Forest Personnel, including ranger Dharanidhar Boro, inside Kaziranga National Park, and condemned the incident. In an official release, AASU president Shankar Prasad Ray and general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi described the incident as indicative of the lawless condition in Assam under Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The duo expressed surprise that Gogoi, who is also in charge of the Home Department, has been unable to take any action against those involved in the offence. Stating that the Chief Minister has not taken any steps because of election-centred politics, the AASU urged that immediate action be taken against those responsible. The role of Forest Minister in this regard also attracted criticism from AASU.

Sangma threatens stir over PR in Meghalaya

New Delhi, March 21 – Enraged at the imposition of President’s Rule in Meghalaya, senior NCP leader P A Sangma today met JDU president Sharad Yadav to enlist his support for his movement against the Centre’s decision and threatened to go on a fast unto death if the decision is not revoked, reports PTI.

“If President’s Rule in the state is not revoked by Tuesday, I, along with other leaders from the north east, would go on a fast unto death from Wednesday in Delhi,” Sangma told reporters after the meeting with Yadav. He said apart from this hunger strike, similar fasts will be launched in the state and district capitals of Meghalaya.

The NCP leader said that he met the JDU chief who has assured all support to the agitation for getting Governor’s rule in the state revoked.

Asked whether he is joining NDA, Sangma said “nothing about elections was discussed in the meeting with Sharadji”. He said he has already met BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani and Prakash Karat of the CPI-M and plans to meet JDS chief Deve Gowda later today.

Several leaders of the north east accompanied Sangma in the meeting with Yadav. He claimed that all non-Congress parties are supporting his demand. To a query if his agitation meant a break-up of the alliance of NCP with the Congress, Sangma said the “alliance was not at the national but state level”

Yadav said the UPA government has flouted constitutional norms and propriety by imposing President’s Rule in Meghalaya. “For political benefit, UPA has imposed President’s Rule,” the JDU president told reporters.

Leaders of Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) led by Sangma rushed here on Thursday and are meeting various party leaders to garner support against the imposition of President’s Rule terming it unwarranted and unprecedented.

The MPA leaders are also exploring possibilities of moving the Supreme Court to challenge the UPA government’s decision.