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PM has 'a lot of concern in his heart' for Assam

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the Centre was aware of the problems of the north-eastern states and would try to solve them at the earliest.

Stating that he would stand by the people of Assam through the thick and thin, the prime minister has said there was ''a lot of concern in his heart for the state''. Assam is the second state Vajpayee is visiting after taking over as prime minister -- the first being Uttar Pradesh, where he had visited his Lucknow constituency.

''I have a lot of love for the region from the core of my heart,'' he added. ''And I am not new to this place..''

Vajpayee said the Centre would give full financial assistance to combat militancy in the state.

The assurance came after Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta apprised the prime minister of the law and order situation in the state. The two leaders met for nearly 40 minutes in Guwahati.

Vajpayee today inaugurating the third bridge over Brahamaputra river at Jogighopa in Assam.

He said the Rs 3 billion bridge would remove the communication bottleneck in the region.

The 'Narnarayan Setu' would provide a second route to the north-eastern region and boost the coal-based economy of Garo hills in Meghalaya.

Having a span of more than two km, this rail-road bridge is considered a technological marvel. The river discharge is 92,480 cubic metre per second, requiring special engineering skills.

Additional reportage by UNI

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