NCP will complain to Gill about 'AGP disruption'

By Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI, MARCH 5. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Mr. P. A. Sangma, today said that he would bring yesterday's disruption of an election meeting of the five-party Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) in Nagaon district by Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) workers to the notice of the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, and the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr. M. S. Gill.

District authorities had given permission for conducting the meeting, which was organised at Kathiatoli falling under the Chief Minister, Mr. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's Barhampur constituency, to kick off the campaign of the RDA comprising the NCP, the Asom Gana Sangram Parishad, the PLP, the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Asom Jaitya Sammelan.

But when the AGP workers forcibly occupied the dais, destroyed chairs, tables and microphones, beat up NCP volunteers and prevented people from reaching the venue, the police and the district administration remained spectators, Mr. Sangma alleged at a press conference.

Judging by the behaviour of the district authorities and the police, the coming Assembly elections in Assam ``would not be free and fair''. Mr. Bhrigu Phukan, former Assam Home Minister, said he had ``affiliated'' his Asom Jatiya Sammelan, to the NCP, while retaining its separate identity. He would contest under the NCP symbol. (Mr. Phukan is still a sitting AGP MLA).

Mr. Sangma said the RDA which was ``going to the people as an alternative to Congress and the AGP'', would contest about 90 seats.

Many Assam Congressmen had contacted and some more were trying to establish contact with him with a view to joining the NCP. The picture would be clear in 10 days, he said.

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