Assam 'most complex state' administered in the country: P Chidambaram

GUWAHATI: Home Minister P Chidambaram today said that Assam is the "most complex state" administered in the country as people of various groups live here.

The Home Minister comments came after reviewing security and rehabilitation work being carried out in the violence-hit areas of Assam.

"Assam is perhaps the most complex state administered in the country because people of various ethnicity lives together. People of the country must learn to live together as India is a plural society," he told reporters here.

He, however, said that influx of illegal migrants has come down sharply in the state, which shares boundary with Bangladesh.

"Assam's border is a difficult border. There is no denial that illegal migration takes place from Bangladesh. But influx has come down sharply," said Chidambaram, who is on a two-day visit to the state.

He said that the Government has to set up Border Out Posts (BOPs), construct more roads and border guarding complexes. "We have to speed up our border guarding efforts," the HM said.

Chidambaram said, "the Government of Assam has made a detailed plan for security, both long and medium term, which we hope would be adequate to bring back normalcy in the affected areas".

"Every displaced person will be rehabilitated. All of them want to go home to their own villages. We will ensure their proper security," he said.

As many as 57 people have lost their lives and 47,936 families affected due to the ethnic clash in some of the districts of the state displacing over four lakh people.

"Initially, no one expected that the clashes could expand in such a manner and it is true that initially there were not enough forces. But soon we made arrangements for forces and their deployment. The Government of India fully stands behind the Government of Assam," Chidambaram said.

When asked about reports of delay in sending Army personnel soon after violence was reported, he said, "there is no role of Ministry of Home Affairs in sending Army. The Defence Ministry deployed Army as soon as (it was) possible".

On a question about presence of armed groups, the HM said, "there are still militant groups which have not joined the mainstream and still resort to violence".

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who accompanied the Home Minister during his visit to relief camps and violence hit areas said, "Rumour mongering created lots of panic which resulted in violence and the Government's priority is to restore peace, harmony and initiate the rehabilitation process".