The Hindu : Other States / Assam News : Gogoi wants militant outfits to take part in elections

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Sunday, Apr 10, 2005

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Gogoi wants militant outfits to take part in elections

By Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI, APRIL 9. The Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, today urged the two major militant outfits, the United Liberation Front of Asom and the National Democratic Front of Boroland, to take part in the Assembly elections scheduled for May next year.

At a Congress rally held at the Judges' Field here, Mr. Gogoi said that both outfits should give up arms and contest the polls. "If they really love Assam, they should contest the polls to capture power and serve the people through a democratic process."

The rally was organised to kick start the preparations for the Assembly polls.

`Violence no solution'

Mr. Gogoi said that violence would not lead to any solution and peace would remain a far cry in Assam if the militant outfits did not shun the path of violence and take part in the democratic process.

The AICC observer in-charge of the State, Digvijay Singh, said the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre was ready to hold unconditional talks with all militant outfits including the ULFA. He appealed to them to shun the path of violence and come forward to the negotiating table without any precondition.

He also urged the ULFA to realise that blowing up oil pipelines and transformers could only be detrimental to the interests of the State.

Mr. Singh criticised the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad and the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying the people of Assam had rejected them. Though the AGP came to power twice, the people had rejected the regional party because of corruption and inefficiency.

`Focus on peace'

Describing the BJP as "communal," Mr. Singh said the party failed to gain ground in the State as the society was multiethnic and would not allow any communal forces to grow. Both Mr. Gogoi and Mr. Singh urged the party workers to focus on peace and rural development.

The Congress today described the rally as "Gramodaya Yatra" to counter the BJP's "Dispur Gherao" programme and the AGP's "March to Dispur" programme.

Mr. Gogoi said the yatra would focus on serving the rural masses, which he said constituted the majority of the State's population.

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Gogoi wants militant outfits to take part in elections