Guwahati, Jan 7 : The Opposition today not only questioned the Assam government’s ability to tackle terror, citing the two serial blasts in the state within two months, but also accused it of trying to keep the insurgency issue alive.

Leader of the Opposition and AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary made the two issues the cornerstone of his argument while participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the governor’s address on the second day of the six-day winter session. He started after Congress legislator Bhupen Bora set off the proceedings with a spirited defence of the speech.

Armed with figures and reports dealing with terror downloaded from the Internet, the Opposition leader articulated the concerns of the “people at large” about why the government has not been able to identify the third force behind the blasts even after two months. He cited the example of the Mumbai terror attacks where the perpetrators have not only been identified but the Centre is virtually ready to go to war with Pakistan.

Along with Dispur, he also came down on the Centre for not highlighting the Assam blasts in Parliament. “It was taken up only when four of our MPs protested the matter. What does this prove? Are we in the mainstream or not?” Patowary asked.

Though he did not specify the source of terror in the Assembly, it was clear from the tone and spirit of his contention that the government has to strongly take up the matter with Bangladesh.

The Opposition leader was also scathing in criticising the senior bureaucrats for not being present in the officers’ gallery during the debate.

In response, Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai said he would bring the absence to the notice of the chief secretary, who is in Delhi along with the chief minister and DGP, to attend the meeting on internal security.

The Assembly also discussed the border dispute with Arunachal Pradesh.