Assam government appeals to Ulfa to join mainstream

Assam governor P.B. Acharya on Thursday made an appeal here to all militant outfits to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.

In what is said to be the policy document of the new BJP-led alliance government, Mr Acharya, in his first address to the new Assembly, announced that security, good governance and development for all citizens would be the top priorities of the newly-elected government.

“Assam has been fighting insurgency for more than three decades now. My government would appeal to all militant groups to shun violence and join the mainstream of life in the greater interest of the state of Assam and its people,” Mr Acharya said.

“It would be the endeavour of my government to take the peace process forward and reach settlement. My government would strengthen the law and order machinery and provide all necessary support to our security forces,” he said.

Laying high stress on good governance, Mr Acharya said, “We will do our best to give a clean, efficient and responsive administration and will strive to ensure our delivery system works with full accountability and complete transparency in all areas of governance.”

The government will also explore the aspects of Assam being a land of potential, possibilities and prosperity in the right perspective for bringing about speedy growth to meet the hopes and aspirations of the citizens irrespective of their ethnicity, caste or religious identity.

The BJP led alliance government will endeavour to bring about all round development of Assam by optimally utilising its abundant natural and human resources and harnessing latest global technologies and modern management techniques, Mr Acharya said.

The government aimed to achieve balanced development of all the regions of the state - Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, hill and plain areas, he said.

For economic development, he said that the government would instill discipline in the state fiscal situation and had a vision for employment and poverty alleviation by including skill development and vocational training on a large scale, leveraging the hospitality and tourism industry, ensuring single-window clearances for ease of doing business.