Gogoi's I-Day message: Centre will talk to statehood agitators

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday announced that the central government would hold tripartite discussions with agitating ethnic groups that are demanding separate states in the wake of the Centre’s decision to create Telangana state.

Addressing the official central Independence Day function in Guwahati, Gogoi, however, reiterated his call to all the communities in the state to live together 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 Tricolour.

Gogoi informed that he had already placed the demand for tripartite talks before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

“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 emphasised 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 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.

Stating that the government has been able to ‘pull things back from the abyss’ with the help of the people, 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.”

The chief minister reiterated the government’s commitment to implement the Assam Accord and added that the long-delayed work on National Register of Citizens (NRC) update has been taken up for identification and deportation of illegal migrants from the state.

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.

Image: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi inspecting a guard of honour during I-Day celebrations in Guwahati