Will act tough against forces fomenting communal tension: Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal

NRC PUBLICATION

Dispur has identified those spreading misleading messages through social media and will nab them soon

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/MANGALDOI, July 28: With less than 48 hours remained for publication of the complete draft NRC, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday warned unscrupulous elements of stern actions in case they are found fomenting communal tension in social media on the pretext of NRC update.

Speaking at the annual state convention, 2018 of Seemanta Chetana Mancha, Purbottar at Nikashi in Baksa district on Saturday, Sonowal said there is absolutely no reason for genuine Indian citizens to become worried and scared if their names do not appear in the complete draft NRC. He said such persons will not face any kind of harassment from anybody and get ample opportunities to make claims to enroll their names in the final NRC.

Sonowal said the State Government will provide all possible help to genuine Indian citizens to enroll their names in the final NRC. But the Chief Minister made it loud and clear that if any unscrupulous element tries to foment communal hatred through social media, his government will tame such elements sternly. He said the forces trying to disrupt the ongoing NRC update process are the biggest enemies of the State as well the country. “The people who are spreading misleading, religious messages through social like facebook, twitter and other means of internet are identified and will be nabbed,” the Chief Minister said.

Asserting that his government is playing the role of a catalyst to the Central Government’s efforts in bringing about infrastructural development along the border areas, Sonowal said that the Centre has agreed in principle to construct a four-lane highway of 264 KM length along the Indo-Bhutan border encompassing four districts of the State. He also reiterated that after getting clearance from the Ministry of Forest and Environment, the construction work will start on a full throttle.

The new connectivity will bring in revolutionary changes not only in connectivity but also in trade and commerce of the areas, he said.

Sonowal said that the new steps will bring about socio-economic revolution in the four districts along with its peripheral areas. He said that for the socio-economic development of border districts like Cachar, Karimganj, South Salmara-Mankachar, Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri, the State government has taken special schemes.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released funds for the development of border areas including international and inter-state. Because of intervention from the Central and State governments, confidence is back into the people,” Sonowal said. Hailing the role of Seemanta Chetana Mancha, Purbottar, Sonowal said that the organization has been rendering yeoman’s service to imbibe the spirit of patriotism among the youths.