A Congress delegation has been prevented from visiting Mon district in Nagaland, where 14 innocent civilians were gunned down by security forces recently. 

The Congress delegation comprises of AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh Alwar, deputy leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and Nagaland Congress in-charge Ajoy Singh. 

The Congress leaders have been ‘detained’ at the Jorhat airport following orders from the district administration.

“…there are sufficient grounds to prohibit their (Congress leaders) further movement considering the present sensitive situation at Assam-Nagaland border areas and apprehension of breach of peace and tranquillity in the border areas of Jorhat district,” the order from Jorhat district magistrate Ashok Kumar Barman read. 

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“I, …do hereby prohibit the visit of the aforesaid delegation …beyond Jorhat Airport unless express permission is given by Govt of Nagaland to enter the state,” the order further read. 

Nagaland

Meanwhile, the Congress delegation has come down heavily at the government over their ‘detention’. 

“This is shameful that we have been detained at the Jorhat Airport in Assam which is near to the Mon district of Nagaland. Clearly shows the anxiousness of Amit shah,” said Congress leader Ajoy Kumar. 

He added: “We have been denied to meet the families of the bereaved in Nagaland. Why is Modi Government afraid of the Congress delegation?” 

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The three-member Congress delegation are staging a sit-in protest at the Jorhat Airport over their ‘detention’. 

“We have been sitting on a dharna at Jorhat airport for last three hours. Our only aim is to visit our brothers and sisters in Nagaland and tell them Congress party stands with them at this hour of grief. The Assam police under instructions has detained us at Jorhat airport,” Assam Congress MP and deputy leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said. 

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Meanwhile, the Nagaland Congress has also condemned the ‘detention’ of the delegation at Jorhat Airport. 

General Secretary of Nagaland Congress – GK Zhimomi said: “Preventing to meet the bereaved families of those 14 civilians killed shows BJP government at centre and states are keen to suppress the truth.”