Gogoi for political settlement of militancy

GUWAHATI, SEPT. 27. The Assam Chief Minister, Mr. Tarun Gogoi, today said the Government was for a political settlement of the problem of militancy in the State and welcomed the banned outfit ULFA's preparedness for talks.

Replying to a zero-hour notice raised by Mr. Dilip Saikia (AGP) in the Assembly here, Mr. Gogoi said he firmly believed that the extremist problem could be solved only through talks and all efforts were being made in that direction.

He said there was no definite proposal forthcoming from the ULFA for a dialogue but the outfit's preparedness for talks, despite its preconditions, was welcome. He informed the House that his Government had asked the Centre to hold parleys with the ULFA and other ultras but he was not aware if contacts had been established with them.

``Terrorism has to be stopped and violence curbed for development of the State as its backwardness, financial and other problems were due to militancy,'' he said. The ULFA's pre-condition for dialogue included that talks be held outside the country in the presence of U.N. representatives and only on the issue of sovereignty of Assam.

Mr. Saikia demanded adoption of a resolution in the House urging the Centre to initiate dialogues with militant outfits.

Take oath

Earlier, Mr. Tarun Gogoi, and Dr. Kalyan Gogoi of the Congress today took the oath of office and secrecy in the Assam Assembly.

Both of them were elected in the recent by-elections. After the swearing in ceremony, the Chief Minister sought cooperation from the Opposition parties. Many Opposition party leaders present on the occasion had also assured their support to the government.

Civic poll in December

The Assam Government has decided to hold panchayat elections in the State in the second half of December this year, the State Panchayat, Rural Development and Health Minister, Dr. Bhumidhar Barman, said today.

Replying to questions raised by Mr. Bhimananda Tanti of Congress and Mr. Hitendranath Goswami of AGP, Mr. Barman said the State Election Commission had already been communicated about the decision so that they could take steps in that direction.

Voters' list would be published in due course of time as required under the existing rules, Mr. Barman said.

- PTI, UNI

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