Guwahati: The Assam Government on Friday urged the Hindi-speaking people to ignore the fresh threat issued by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to quit the State.

Appealing to them not to panic, the Government assured them that it would provide full security to all people, particularly those speaking Hindi.

At a press conference here, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced the formation of a welfare board to undertake relief and rehabilitation for victims of terrorism.

Mr. Gogoi said that the board would be on the lines of the Army Welfare Board for ex-servicemen. It would look into the grievances of not only those affected in the recent violence perpetrated by ULFA but also victims of terrorist violence over the last decade.

"No authority"

The Chief Minister said ULFA has no authority to issue a threat to Hindi-speaking people.

"I [would] like to remind ULFA that Assam is very much an integral part of India. We want that Assam prosper by remaining as a very important part of India. As anybody from Assam can live in any part of India so is it in the case of citizens from any part of the country," Mr. Gogoi said. He pointed out that thousands of Assamese youth were working in various parts of the country.

The Chief Minister said that he was happy that not a single Hindi-speaking person living in Assam for a long time had left the State after the massacre in upper Assam. Those who left were workers who had come here for a temporary period.

Mr. Gogoi said the Central and State Governments would deal firmly with ULFA. The Hindi-speaking people were very much part of the greater Assamese society.

He alleged that the welfare of Assam was not on ULFA's agenda. "They want Assam to remain a backward State... "

Two killed

ANI reports:

Two persons were killed and two seriously injured in twin blasts in Guwahati's Adabari area and Sibsagar district on Friday.

The blast that took place in Adabari's crowded market claimed the lives of two persons. The second blast targeted an oil pipeline in the Sibasagar district.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail