Assam violence: PM should reply to Gogoi's remark, says BJP

New Delhi: With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh describing the Assam riots as a 'blot on the nation', BJP on Saturday demanded a reply from him on the reported statement by Assam Chief Minister about delay in deploying the army to help curb violence.

The party also accused the Congress of being responsible for the ethnic violence.

"The Prime Minister has gone to Assam and described the Kokrajhar incidents as a 'blot' on the nation...We demand a reply from Manmohan Singh that Tarun Gogoi, who is their Chief Minister, has accused the Centre of not sending timely help and forces," BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said.

The BJP also accused the Congress of being responsible for the ethnic violence in Assam.

Terming the situation in Assam still tense and asking the government to take immediate steps to improve the situation there, Hussain said adding "who is responsible for the Kokrajhar violence? Congress cannot be absolved of its responsibilities."

Charging the Congress-led government at the Centre and Assam with being responsible for the violence, the BJP leader said "the situation in Assam has not come about in a day. It was happening for quite some time. The Manmohan Singh government and Tarun Gogoi government have failed completely."

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