Assam invites ultras for talks

"The government is aware that insurgency cannot be resolved by military methods alone. Hence, my government has been keeping the door open for dialogue with the militants to find an amicable solution to the problem. All possible and sincere efforts are being made to bring the militant groups to the negotiation table," he said.

Praising the Assam police for fighting terrorism, the Governor said that the unified headquarter system set up last year under the Army had been successful in dealing with the militants by inflicting heavy losses on the ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and other insurgent groups.

Steps had been taken to modernise the police force by upgrading their weaponry, communication, technical capability as well as mobility.

Meanwhile, suspended Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislator Bhrigu Kumar Phukan today boycotted the Governor’s address to the Assembly.

Phukan and another AGP MLA Brindaban Goswami sent a letter of protest to the Speaker alleging that the Governor’s speech did not contain the truth as the government had failed to deliver the goods. Phukan, who had been suspended from the party for anti-party activities recently, told newsmen that he would again raise the issue during the debate on the Governor’s address.

He alleged that the AGP government was a total failure and the Governor’s address was an attempt to cover that up.

The Governor in his speech said that the CBI had completed investigation in all the 12 cases of the letter of credit scandal and the criminal investigation department was also maintaining a high degree of vigilance.

On the Assam accord the Governor said the government was pursuing various agencies for implementation of the accord.

On the border problem with neighbouring states, Sinha said the government was making efforts to settle the disputes amicably.

The government, he said had formed a new industrial policy last year in which fiscal incentives were incorporated for attracting new investment.

In the power sector, the Governor said, there was considerable improvement in generation and particularly in southern Assam availability of power had increased after the commissioning of the Adamtila Baskandi gas based project. To deal with the flood problem, the government was taking measures to seal all the breaches caused by the Brahmaputra while also undertaking anti-erosion measures, he said.

The government, he said was also protecting the forest areas with the extension of the Kaziranga national park as well as the notification for elevation of the Nameri wild life sanctuary to a national park.