New Delhi, Nov 20: CPI and CPI(M) today asked the Centre to effectively intervene and deploy army under civilian authority to stop the spread of violence in Assam and Bihar forthwith. "Apart from meeting the request for additional security forces made by the state governments, wherever necessary, the Centre must deploy the army under civilian authority in critical areas," the CPI(M) polit bureau said in a statement, warning that the situation could deteriorate if immediate measures were not taken.

Appealing to the people of both states "not to fall prey to provocations and help restore normalcy", it also asked the Centre to assist the state governments to control the situation.
Condemning the violence, the CPI central secretariat lashed out at the "parochial elements who are utilising the situation to whip up frenzy on both sides" as well as the "provocating statements" of Railway Minister Nitish Kumar which, it said, had "added fuel to the fire".

It said the two state governments and the Centre "intervene effectively in the situation and restore normalcy".

The party also condemned the Shiv Sena whose workers ransacked railway recruitment office in Mumbai and beat up officials and said "at the root is the growing unemployment that has assumed menacing proportions".
Bureau Report