Come clear on Assam Accord, Mahanta to political parties

BY Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 9: Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today made an appeal to all political parties to include the issue of implementation of Assam Accord in their respective election manifestos.

Addressing a press conference as the chief advisor of Sangrami Satirtha Manch, an organization of the Assam Agitation leaders, Mahanta underscored the need to implement the accord in letter and spirit.

"In the interest of the indigenous Assamese people, political parties should make their stand on the accord clear. This is crucial to safeguard the State's geographical boundary, ensure security of the indigenous people so that they are protected economically, politically and socially," he said.

Asked about the initiatives taken to implement the accord when he was the Chief Minister, Mahanta said, "Setting up of NRL, IIT, three central universities, the four-lane highway etc were taken up during the tenure of my government."

Mahanta also dismissed Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's allegations of the then AGP government being involved in "secret killings". "Mr Gogoi says one thing in the morning and another at night. There were no such killings during my government. In fact, it was during the Congress government that 855 youths were killed in cold blood," he said.