Assam government completely failed: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP warned that any move to issue firearms to violence affected people in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts would lead to civil war.

Reacting to a reported statement by an Assam minister that people in the area should be given licensed arms by the state government for self defence, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said, "It is one of the most outlandish statements to be made by a responsible person in the government. This means the Assam government has completely failed."

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, however, dismissed media reports that the state government would provide firearms to the violence-hit people and said security in vulnerable areas would be increased.

The state government has not taken any decision as reported in a section of media that the government would issue firearms to those people, Gogoi said in a statement in Guwahati.

The recent violence in Kokrajhar and Baksa districts of BTAD area has so far claimed 34 lives and forced thousands of others to flee homes.