Date:26/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/26/stories/2008082660051100.htm

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Persuade ULFA to shun insurgency: PM

Sushanta Talukdar

“Enduring solutions can be found only through discussions”

Nagaon: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday urged the people of Assam to use their collective wisdom to persuade the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to give up the path of insurgency and confrontation. He said enduring solutions could be found only through discussions and the democratic process within the framework of the Constitution.

Dr. Singh, whose speech was read out in absentia as he could not land here to attend a scheduled public meeting due to inclement weather, called upon the ULFA to join the national mainstream and “work with all of us for the rapid social and economic development of Assam.”

He said power in a democracy flowed from the ballot rather than from the bullet and all grievances of the people of the State could be addressed effectively in the country’s democratic polity.

“The northeast has immense development potential and we will make every effort to ensure that it is realised. However, the continued activities of insurgent groups create a climate of fear and insecurity not conducive to rapid economic development and new investment in Assam and other northeastern States,” he said.

Thousands, who had gathered here, since morning returned disappointed after Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain announced that Dr. Singh, who was accompanied by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, had to return to Jorhat as his chopper could not make it through rough weather.

Dr. Singh said the Assam Accord initiated by the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, was an example of what could be achieved through the process of dialogue. “Our government has been reviewing the implementation of the Assam Accord and is committed to ensuring its implementation in letter and in spirit.”

Earlier, laying the foundation for the Jorhat Medical College, Dr. Singh said the country had been facing a major shortage of both trained doctors and trained nurses.

“Our regulatory framework for medical education needs to pro-actively promote the spread of medical education to all parts of our country. There is a need to amend the charter of the Medical Council of India to incorporate this as a major objective,” he said in his speech.

He said the spread of medical institutions in the country was uneven, with five southern States having more than 60 per cent of the medical colleges.

Dr. Singh said the Jorhat college had been conceived as a state-of-the-art medical institution which would impart quality medical education and also provide high quality healthcare.