Vote for Congress again for Assam's development, says PM

 

Barpeta (Assam), April 7 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday appealed to people to vote the Congress into power again to ensure Assam's development, and urged them not to be misled by the false promises of the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP).

I would like to appeal to the people of Assam to give the Congress another chance so that the development work undertaken by the government in the past 10 years could be completed, and same time, not to be misled by the propaganda of the AGP and the BJP," the prime minister told an election rally at Barpeta in western Assam, about 120 km from Guwahati.

Manmohan Singh was in Assam to address two election rallies - one in Barpeta and the other at Sipajhar in the northern Darrang district. He returned to New Delhi later.

"When the Congress government took office in 2001, the state's economic status was in a shambles and we had to really work hard to bring back Assam to a stage where we can proudly claim it is on right track now," the prime minister said.

"Development work in Assam was literally not moving at all during the AGP regime and the law and order situation was very bad."

Lauding the last 10 years of government under Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, the prime minister said the people of Assam should vote for development and stability.

"We are a party of the 'aam aadmi (common man)' and Tarun Gogoi's government was able to accelerate the pace of development by leaps and bounds, besides peace dawning in Assam."

Manmohan Singh also mentioned the peace talks with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), and said the central government is committed to finding a solution to the long-standing insurgency problem in Assam.

"The ULFA peace talks is a good beginning and let me tell you our doors for peace talks with all militant groups are open. We want the militants to shun violence and come for talks," the prime minister said.

Manmohan Singh campaigned in eastern Assam last week.

The second and the final phase of elections is scheduled April 11 in 64 of the 126 assembly seats. An estimated 73 percent polling was recorded in the first phase April 4.

--IANS