From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: On completion of the first year in the office of his third consecutive term as the chief minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi on Friday claimed to have succeeded in putting in place an all encompassing economic development that he said would be continued with full steam.
Talking to the media on the occasion, Gogoi said he would like to have a strong opposition political party in the State which I capable of pointing out mistakes, if any, committed by his government.
He said so in reference to former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta assuming the president post of the main Opposition party, regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
Gogoi while congratulating Mahanta on being elected as the president of the AGP, said he would look forward to have a strong opposition party in the State so that complacency did not creep into the ruling party.
He said the development process that was set in motion in his previous two tenures would be given a thrust and new dimension to improve the life of all sections of people in the State. He said many new welfare schemes were on the pipeline while implementation of the existing schemes is being monitored properly.
Reference to the threat posed by Maoists who are suspected to have set up base in certain parts of the State, Gogoi said Maoists were trying to spread tentacles to the entire Northeastern region and efforts were on to counter the threat from the red brigade.
He pointed out that his government was moving fast towards having a specially-trained police force for tackling the Maoist menace.
Gogoi first became the chief minister of Assam in May, 2001 after the Congress had defeated the AGP by a huge margin.
He then went on to lead Congress to convincing victories in two subsequent Assembly polls in 2006 and 2011.
Meanwhile, even as a demand for a tribal candidate from the North East for the President’s post grew, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said he will not support any nomination for the top position based on regional-lines.
Rejecting the demand for a region-specific candidate, Mr Gogoi said, ‘The President of India cannot be chosen on the basis of a region. He will be the head of the entire country, and no regional or such divisive criterion can be accepted while choosing the right person for the position.’
He added that if regions or communities wanted more representation, it can be demanded in other committees or forums, but not for an elevated position like the nation’s President.
There has been a growing demand from NE for a tribal candidate from the region for the top post and a lobby has also been reportedly working in New Delhi towards it.
Commenting on the rise in crimes, Gogoi mentioned that cadres of the armed militant outfits have joined criminal gangs in Assam, leading to recent spurt in petty crimes across the state. “All the militant outfits in Assam, barring two, have signed ceasefire agreements with the government. Now, after the outfits have shunned violence and responded to our peace efforts, some of the cadres have joined criminal gangs. This has led to an increase in petty crimes such as extortion, kidnappings and murder in the state,” Gogoi said. The chief minister added that the government has been laying stress on civil policing to check crimes across the state and hoped to achieve success very soon.
Gogoi said that barring the anti-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), led by Paresh Baruah, and Karbi Peoples’ Liberation Tigers (KPLT), an outfit based in Karbi Anglong, all other outfits have shunned violence. The chief minister also highlighted success of his government in bringing more than 16 militant outfits to the negotiating table.
“The overall law and order situation has improved,” Gogoi said, pointing out that only 29 civilian deaths were registered during 2011-12 compared to 412 in 2001-02.
Gogoi said the state government’s fiscal health also has improved and the per capita annual income has increased from just Rs.13,962 in 2001-02 to Rs.37,481 in 2011-12.
“The Planning Commission has given Assam Rs.300 crore as reward for good financial management and achievements in various sectors. We have also received a debt relief of about Rs.1,267 crore,” Gogoi pointed out.
“The female literacy and rural literacy rate in the state is higher than the national average. In the human development index, Assam is ranked third in the country,” the chief minister said. He said that a strong Opposition was beneficial for the ruling party as “it motivates the ruling party to work”. “I wish that Asom Gana Parishad leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta emerges as a strong Opposition leader,” Gogoi said. (With input from Agencies)