GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said that the Centre’s Act East Policy followed the ideals of the state’s first Ahom king, Swargodeo Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha, in regard to building friendly relations with neighbouring countries.
“The Act East Policy enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, follows Swargadeo Siu-Ka-Pha’s ideals to make friendly bilateral relations with ASEAN and BBN countries. Siu-Ka-Pha worked to forge strong and friendly relations with other geographical entities which hold tremendous importance even today,” Sonowal said while addressing the central function of Siu-Ka-Pha Divas (Asom Divas) in Jorhat on Sunday.
“In this context, Assam can play a great role following the teachings of Siu-Ka-Pha and become strong and vibrant. Inspired and influenced by the ideals and philosophy of Swargadeo Siu-Ka-Pha, the state government is working to strengthen the edifice of ‘Bor-Asom’,” the chief minister said.
The directorate of cultural affairs in association with Jorhat district administration organised the programme, an official statement here said.
Sonowal further said that Siu-Ka-Pha, way back in 13th century, felt the necessity of integrating many communities for building a strong and powerful society and based on his ideals the BJP led government has envisioned “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” to lend dignity to every individual and help them contribute to make a strong nation.
“Strength of Assam lies in its unity. The state is known its peaceful co-existence and age-old friendship, bonhomie and universal brotherhood that exist among the people belonging to Barak, Brahmaputra, hills and plains and this unity is inherited from Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha However some vested interest groups to fulfill their evil agenda are hell-bent to create divisions in our society,” the chief minister said.
“But the government of Assam is steadfast in its objective to strengthen the age-old unity in the state and working relentlessly to defeat the evil designs of all the divisive forces to make a strong and vibrant Assam,” he asserted.
He further observed that if one was guided by socialistic ethos, he or she could contribute greatly to the welfare of the society and humanity as a whole.