The Hindu : National : Peace rallies held in Assam

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Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004

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Peace rallies held in Assam

By Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI, DEC. 21. Thousands of people from all walks of life today took to the streets in Assam, with the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, leading a peace procession here to give a clear message to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) that the people desired peace and that it should come forward for negotiations.

Participants in rallies included artists, intellectuals, senior citizens, school and college students, NGO members, social activists, political workers, religious leaders and activists of student and youth organisations. Rallies were held in all district headquarters.

`Shun violence'

In the rally led by Mr. Gogoi here, participants carried photographs of victims of the recent grenade blasts triggered by suspected ULFA militants.

Reiterating the State Government's appeal to the ULFA to come forward for peace talks in his speech, the Chief Minister said: "The people of Assam want peace and end to violence. The militant outfits should shun the path of violence and come forward to the negotiation table to solve the problems through peaceful means."

Assamese litterateur and former president of the Assam Sahitya Sabha, Nagen Saikia, artist Neelpawan Barua and singer Khagen Mahanta, also echoed Mr. Gogoi's appeal and urged the people to play a decisive role in restoring peace to the State. Expressing serious concern over the recent spurt in extremist violence, they said the cult of violence was never a part of Assamese culture and hence should be opposed by one and all. Serial blasts triggered by suspected ULFA militants left four dead and more than 70 injured last week.

A citizens' meet held yesterday here adopted a unanimous resolution by calling upon the ULFA to abjure violence and come forward for talks with the Government within the parameters of the Constitution.

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