Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said that most people from his State, who had fled Bangalore in the wake of rumours of possible violence against them, are planning to return. Mr. Gogoi conveyed this to Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok, who began his two-day goodwill visit to Assam and Manipur on Saturday, when the latter called on him at his Home Office in Guwahati.
A statement issued by Karnataka’s Information Department stated that Mr. Gogoi had informed Mr. Ashok that most people, who had come back from Bangalore are now in the process of going back.
In response, Mr. Ashok assured the Assam Chief Minister that the Government of Karnataka “would do everything in its power” to provide protection and security to people of northeast origin. He said there had been no incidents of violence in Karnataka and the situation had been as peaceful as ever.
“A large number of my family and friends are staying in Bangalore and I have got first hand information about the situation”, the statement quoted Mr. Gogoi as having said.
Mr. Gogoi also telephoned Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and thanked him for the State government’s help to the people of northeast origin. Mr. Gogoi said that there were a large number of people from Karnataka settled for generations in Assam and similarly Bangalore was home to a large number of people from Assam. Both States should work together to defeat the vested interests who are trying to create an unpleasant situation between them.
Meghalaya team meets Ashok
A delegation of Ministers from Meghalaya arrived in Bangalore on Friday evening and called on Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok at his residence to secure first-hand knowledge of the situation in Bangalore pertaining to the exodus of people of northeast origin.
The delegation, deputed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, comprised Information and Public Relations Minister A.T. Mondal, Water Resources Minister A.L. Hek and Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, according to a press release.
The delegation met the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, on the eve of his departure to Guwahati.
