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Journalism of Courage
Exactly a week after an Adivasi rally in Guwahati turned violent and led to large-scale trouble across the state, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday announced his decision to ask the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the incident.
Gogoi told a press conference that though he had earlier announced institution of a judicial probe headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, the decision to hand over the probe to CBI was taken in view of demands by various organisations, including the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU).
“I have no problem in asking the CBI to investigate the incident. It is, however, up to the CBI to decide whether it will take up the case or not,” Gogoi said. He, however, said he would try to get the CBI to probe the incident.
Gogoi also announced the setting up of a Committee of Experts to look into the demands of the six communities, including the Adivasis for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list, and said the organisations representing these communities were also welcome to suggest names of experts to be members of the committee.
“My Government is also prepared to meet the expenses of the best lawyers in the country if the organisations want to hire them to argue their cases,” Gogoi said.
Gogoi also criticised the role of a section of the media in projecting an “incorrect and incomplete” picture of the November 24 incident.
