Demand for central intervention in Assam

Several Muslim MPs, including three from Congress led by former deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha K Rahman Khan, today expressed no confidence in the state government in Assam and demanded central  intervention to put an end to clashes between Bodos and Muslim immigrants there.

The MPs, who met home minister P Chidambaram yesterday, had also submitted a memorandum to prime minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday seeking effective steps to control the situation in Assam.

"There is failure somewhere. We have lost confidence in state government's ability to control violence and demanded central intervention," Khan, a senior parliamentarian of Congress, told reporters after meeting Chidambaram.

The Muslim MPs, who met the home minister, included K Rahman Khan, Asrarul Haque Ashk Ali Tak (all three Congress), NCP's Tariq Anwar, Sabir Ali JD(U), Mohammed Adeeb and Ahmed Saeed Malihabadi (Independent).

They said they had "never seen such kind of ethnic violence in India". "The situation is very tense and something has to be done urgently. The state government has not been able to control the situation. We have asked for central intervention," Khan said.

Meanwhile, even as clashes between people of the Bodo tribe and Muslim immigrants continuing in the state, the government today warned that the leaders of both Bodo and Muslim communities would be held responsible if any side was found to be instigating violence that had resulted in loss of 44 lives so far.