Talks with Ulfa a good start: PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who campaigned for the Congress here on Saturday, said the Central government was open to talks with all militant groups and the discussions with the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) had been a good beginning.
Addressing two public rallies of the party on Saturday at Dhakukhana and Nagaon in Assam, Dr Singh said, “I am happy to meet the Ulfa leaders and the talks with them were positive. I feel that prospect of resolving the issue looks brighter.”
The Prime Minister, who came for election meeting despite the 12-hour Assam bandh called by anti-talk faction of Ulfa led by Paresh Baruah, said, “I believe there is enough flexibility in the Constitution to fulfill the aspirations of different sections of the people and do justice to them.”
Regretting that separatist forces have been trying to disrupt peace and harmony, he however said that the Congress government was ready to talk to all those prepared to leave the path of violence and negotiate.
Dr Singh also congratulated the people for thwarting the militant threat and coming out in large number for his public rally. He reiterated, “Development is possible only when peace prevails and both the Central and state governments are sincere in its approach for the development of the state.”
Appealing to the electorate to give mandate to the party for a third term, Dr Singh said the Congress is the only party, which can fulfill the aspirations of the indigenous people and protect their cultural heritage.
Appealing to the voters in Assam not to be misled by false promises made by the Opposition and give the Congress, Dr Singh said, “My appeal to the people of Assam is to give the Congress yet another chance to carry forward the development work undertaken by the government in the past 10 years and not be misled by the propaganda of the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party).”
The Prime Minister also said the UPA government was committed to development of minorities in Assam as several schemes were initiated for this purpose in the state. “The Congress-led UPA government has already initiated several schemes for development of minorities,” he said.
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