From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has announced that the Central government would hold tripartite discussions with agitating ethnic groups in Assam that are demanding separate states.
Addressing the official central Independence Day function here on Thursday , Gogoi, however, reiterated his call to all the communities in the State to live together in the State like a ‘big joint family’.
“As the head of a big joint family, I agree that problems and grievances may exist among family members, but all the issues could be solved through talks and negotiations. I am ready to take up everyone’s cause,” Gogoi said after unfurling the National Flag.
Gogoi informed that he had already apprised the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister (In-charge) P Chidambaram about the statehood stirs and the agitators’ demand for talks with the Centre at the earliest. “All of them have expressed their willingness for discussions with agitating groups,” he added.
He, therefore, called upon the agitators to shun the path of violence and prepare to hold negotiation with the Centre and the State government over their various issues.
He emphasized that his government believed in equal development of all communities and outlined the initiatives and schemes being undertaken by the government for welfare of all sections in the State.
Pointing that peace was returning to the state, Gogoi said the multi-pronged strategy of ushering in development to restore peace had paid rich dividends or his government given that as many as 15 extremist outfits have come forward for dialogue.
“The improvement in the insurgency scenario can be seen from the sharp decline in civilian killings in extremist violence from 412 in 2000 to 13 up to August 6 (six) this year,” he said.
The increase in tourist inflow from 10 lakhs in 2001 to 43.37 lakhs in 2012 is another indicator of prevalence of peace, he added.
Gogoi said, “Insurgency has dwindled, agricultural productivity has increased significantly, road connectivity has penetrated new areas, economic activities have picked up momentum and there has been an unprecedented thrust on providing rural roads, housing, healthcare, drinking water, sanitation and employment.”
On the food security ordinance, Gogoi said out of 3.12 crore population of the state, 2.25 crore in rural areas and 26.5 lakh in urban areas would be benefited under the scheme.