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Journalism of Courage
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today denied charges that he was trying to protect some Congress party MLAs accused of inciting people to encroach upon reserved forests and national parks.
‘‘I have not asked police to refrain from taking action. A reserved forest is a reserved forest and nobody should be spared if found guilty,’’ the Chief Minister said.
At least two Congress MLAs have been accused of inciting encroachers to occupy land inside a national park and a reserved forest apart from obstructing officials from performing their duties.
Forest officials have filed two separate FIRs against Congress MLAs Praneswar Basumatary and Aftabuddin Mullah for inciting the encroachers inside the Nameri National Park and the Goalpara reserved forest while the authorities were clearing the encroachments during the drive launched in April.
Meanwhile, the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today alleged that the Congress regime had adopted double standards in evicting encroachers from reserved forests while implementing the SC’s orders.
AGP leader Dilip Kumar Saikia, who faxed a letter to the Prime Minister and the Union Environment and Forest Minister today, said while indigenous Assamese and the tribals have been evicted, the government had turned a blind eye to people of doubtful origin sitting inside.
