Different communities must live together in harmony: PC

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday appealed to different communities in Assam to live together.

Referring to recent clashes between Bodos and minority immigrant settlers in the state, he said Assam is a typical example of a pluralistic society where communities like Bodos, minorities, Bengali Hindus, Adivasis, Rajbongshis and others live.

"My appeal to them is we must learn to live together. Whether they live in this legal arrangement or in that legal arrangement, whatever the arrangement is, they have to learn to live together," he said.

"In fact, all states in India are becoming more and more plural. Delhi is a fine example of a plural society. We have to live together," he said.

Chidambaram returned on Tuesday after a two-day visit to the violence-affected areas in Assam.

Asked whether there was a delay in the deployment of armed forces in controlling violence in Kokrajhar and adjoining districts, the home minister said he could not comment on that as he had no knowledge about when the defence ministry had received the request from the Assam government.

"When did the defence ministry respond to that request and under what circumstances, obviously I cannot comment without knowing the facts," he said, adding that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had said he has no complaints on that issue.

Chidambaram said the immediate task of the government was to provide relief to violence-affected people, rehabilitate them and provide proper security to them.