'We don't need a communal pistol': Assam forum opposes govt's arms license policy

Nagaon: A prominent citizens' forum in Assam's Nagaon district on Tuesday voiced strong opposition to the state government's controversial decision to issue arms licences to indigenous people, particularly in what it terms "vulnerable and remote" areas.

The Nagaon Nagarik Sabha (NNS) staged a protest on Monday evening, demanding an immediate withdrawal of the cabinet decision made on May 28. NNS Secretary Birinchi Bora criticised the move, stating, "We don't need a communal pistol. We need irrigation to save our dry agricultural fields, we need jobs, we need land rights, like what the government is giving to big corporate houses." Bora further alleged that the government is pushing this policy to divert public attention from its perceived administrative failures, questioning if ruling party members, safe in their bullet-proof cars, would take responsibility if a "Manipur-like situation" were to arise in Assam. He appealed to the public to distance themselves from what he called the ruling BJP's "communal agenda" aimed at "covering up their scams."

Following the cabinet's decision, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had identified districts like Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon, and South Salmara-Mankachar, along with localities such as Rupahi, Dhing, and Jania, as "vulnerable and remote." Significantly, these areas are known to be minority-dominated places.

The Chief Minister has consistently defended the policy, claiming that indigenous people in these areas have been seeking arms licenses for safety since the Assam Agitation period (1979-85). On July 24, Sarma controversially stated that indigenous people "will survive only if firearms are provided to them." He had also announced on July 23 that a dedicated portal would be available from August to streamline the process of procuring arms licenses for the indigenous community in these vulnerable areas.

With inputs from PTI