Calling the Shiv Sena’s role in Mumbai violence ‘‘unfortunate’’, the Congress today said it has the Centre’s assurance on sending additional security forces to Assam to bring the situation under control. Senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Assam Manmohan Singh said: ‘‘After our representations seeking additional forces in Assam, the Centre has assured that 113 companies are in position in Assam and that additional forces will be made available.’’ ‘‘The Centre feels there is a limited number of forces they can provide now in view of the elections,’’ he added. Giving details of the number of times the state government has requested for additional forces in the past one-and-half years, Singh said: ‘‘We do not want to apportion blame at this time. It is the duty of both Assam government and the Centre to deal with the situation immediately.’’ On why no senior Congress leader is visiting the state, he clarified that they do not want the ‘‘state government to be distracted’’. On whether Assam CM Tarun Gogoi should be held responsible for the law and order situation in the state, Singh said: ‘‘This is not merely a case of law and order. Assam faces a unique situation where ULFA operates from sanctuaries in Bhutan and the borders are not protected as well as they should be.’’
