As thousands of people from the northeast settled in different parts of Karnataka continued to flee to their home States, two Ministers from Assam reached Bangalore on Friday to allay their fears.
Assam Minister for Tourism and Transport Chandan Brahma, who represents Bodoland People’s Front in the coalition government, and Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nilomani Sen Deka came straight to the Bangalore City Railway Station after landing in the city.
Interaction
Though first on the official agenda was a joint press meet with Karnataka Ministers at the Vidhana Soudha, the Ministers first preferred to interact with people. But before that, the two had a brief interaction with Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S. Suresh Kumar and Home Minister R. Ashok at the Station Manager’s cabin.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara and All India Congress Committee general secretary Oscar Fernandes later joined the Ministers.
Mr. Ashok informed the Assam Ministers that there were no confirmed racist attacks and said his government, in association with the South Western Railway (SWR), had ensured enough special trains to those wanting to get back home.
After this, the Assam Ministers began their interaction with people from their region. Addressing them, Mr. Brahma said: “I’ll stay back in Bangalore till you feel comfortable.”
He reassured them that Karnataka was one of the safest places for everyone. “Don’t worry about your parents in Assam. We are there to look after them.”
Mr. Deka said there was no need for panic. “We are all with you,” he said.
Sloganeering
Meanwhile, activists of India Against Corruption questioned the Assam Ministers on their visit. “You are not able to protect people in your own State. What business do you have in Karnataka?” they said. Eventually, the police, fed up with their ignoring repeated requests to desist from sloganeering, briefly detained them.
