Wednesday, January 26 2005 17:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: In the backdrop of the bomb explosions at the Republic Day function in Guwahati, the Opposition AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in Assam today (Jan 26, 2005) separately demanded immediate resignation of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his alleged failure to control the law and order situation in the State.

The AGP lambasted the Gogoi-led Congress Government for its alleged failure to protect the lives of common people in the aftermath of the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) sponsored bomb blasts in the State.

"Today's incident in the main Republic Day function where the Governor and Chief Minister were present and last year's blast on Independence Day at Dhemaji reflected total failure of the Government and their machinery", alleged AGP president Brindabon Goswami.

Talking to journalists at the R-day parade ground where the ULFA blasted two bombs injuring three, including a police personnel, an agitated Goswami said, "To demand Gogoi's resignation is an understatement as it is for the people to decide whether he is really fit to head the Government".

The ULFA have proved that the hollow claims of the Government about tightened security was just a publicity stunt as the ULFA engages in violence at will, he asserted.

"It is high time that he (Gogoi) should accept the moral responsibility himself instead of blaming the police officials and resign", he added.

Meanwhile, BJP N-E Zonal Organising secretary V Satish in a press release here condemned the serial blasts in the city today and demanded Gogoi's resignation "for his utter failure in controlling the ever deteriorating law and order situation".

"When the country is celebrating R-day today, the people in Assam have very little to experience this because the State is sitting on a live volcano", Satish said.

"The present situation is a grave one due to the presence of lakhs of Bangladeshis and the ISI (Inter State Intelligence) bent on creating havoc in the N-E Region", he asserted.

"The Congress-led Assam Government is turning a blind eye to the growing threats by the dreaded ISI as if the State will be slowly handed over to Bangladeshis", accused Satish.

"The silent demographic aggression going on unabatedly with the tacit support of the ruling Congress backed by the leftists is a serious threat to the very existence of the people of Assam", the BJP leader cautioned.

Asserting that a feeling of insecurity had gripped the people in the State, he accused the State Government of failing to protect the lives and property of the people.

"The UPA's (United Progressive Alliance) decision to retain the draconian, highly discriminatory Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act has further sealed the fate of the Assamese people", he averred.