BITA skips CIITA meeting due to Assam riots

Following the brewing tension across the nation over the issue of Assam and the exodus of the Assamese back to their state, Bihar IT Association (BITA) had to skip the crucial meeting of Confederation of Indian IT Associations (CIITA) citing unavailability of seats on the trains from Patna to Guwahati.

"Across the nation people from Assam are returning home following various attacks on them. As a result the stations in Bihar too, are choking and there is hardly any room in the trains. We approached the local railway authorities for safety of the journey and seat availability and were recommended not to board trains to Assam; hence we had to forego the meeting in Bhutan", said Naveen Kumar, secretary, BITA.

Following communal threats across the nation following the riots in Assam, more than 30000 people from north-east have fled to their home from Bengaluru alone with other accounts of an estimated 15000 people from north and west India returning to north-east.

Commenting about BITA unable to attend the CIITA meeting, Rajiv Poddar, secretary, CIITA said, "Yes, BITA was unable to attend the meeting in Bhutan as there were some issues with the trains and the exodus of the people in the north-east".

Kumar, however, notified that BITA is yet to officially receive intimations or communications about the meeting and key decisions taken by the confederation in Bhutan.

"I know that there were some key decisions taken and implementation of the same was discussed but I am yet unaware of the minutes of the meeting or conventions which were passed. I think by the next 2 days, we'll get to know about the same", he added.

In their last meeting in Bhutan, CIITA had suggested credit control policies and measures as a measure to ensure ethical trading in the market which was the key discussion point.

Also, in one of the most important discussions, the confederation had discussed over control of theft with some of the members of CIITA suggesting to report loss or theft of laptops to the confederacy which will submit the serial numbers of the lost items to the vendors and other agencies by which a stolen item can be either blocked or tracked.