With Assam reeling after the latest wave of militant attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants, the state Government approached the Union Home Ministry with a request for additional Central forces. But Delhi rebuffed Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi with a firm no. With nearly 200 companies of Central forces deployed there, the CM was told, Assam stood second only to Jammu and Kashmir on this count. The state Government would have to be more innovative in managing such crises than simply demanding more troops. Gogoi was crestfallen—but he hasn’t played his trump card yet. Assam has the best known member in the Rajya Sabha—Dr Manmohan Singh—and Gogoi may now invoke the good doctor’s name.
