For once, Congress applauds ED action; censures PM’s remark

In a rare gesture, the Congress on Wednesday welcomed the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on illegal coal mining mafia in Assam and Meghalaya saying it proved Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma wrong for saying that no such thing existed in the region.

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Usually, the Congress maintains that the probe agency is being used by the government for political vendetta.

Deputy Leader of Opposition in Parliament Gaurav Gogoi referred to the recent 'Rising Northeast Summit' addressed by PM Narendra Modi where the PM talked about the trade and investment in the region.

"However, the ground reality of the northeast is against what the PM said," Gogoi told reporters. He said two diseases plague the northeast -- illegal coal mining and drugs. 

The ED on May 24 conducted raids on illegal coal mining in Assam and Meghalaya, he said. 

Quoting the ED statement, Gogoi said illegal coal "nexus syndicate" had been found in the two states.

"Cash was found collected by the syndicate. We welcome the ED move as it nagates the claim by the Assam CM," he said. 

Also, unhappy over the "small-eyed" Chinese products comment by the PM made in Gujarat recently, Gogoi urged him to be sensitive in his remarks since people from the northeast have to face taunts for their physical features.

He said there had been instances in the past when people, including students, came to him with the complaints of having faced harassment.