GUWAHATI, May 18? Lauding Tarun Gogoi government?s policy of ?development a must to restore peace?, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Paban Singh Ghatowar today accused the BJP-led Central Government of ?not being sincere in holding talks with militants of Assam,? while the Chief Minister pledged to focus on women empowerment. Addressing a mammoth public rally organised by the APCC to mark completion of the first year in office by the Congress Government in the State, Sri Ghatowar demanded that the Centre follow the same policy to bring the proscribed ULFA to the negotiation table as it had done in case of the NSCN-IM. He said it was very hard to understand why the Centre was hesitant to take the ?first step? to facilitate talks with militant outfits of the State despite the repeated assurance from the incumbent State Government of ?all possible? help in this regard.
Echoing the views of Sri Ghatowar, the Chief Minister Sri Gogoi during his address said while the Centre should adopt the same policy to hold talks with the ULFA, the insurgents of the State should also give up violence to give peace and development a chance. The APCC President was also very vocal in condemning the BJP-led Central government for not providing adequate reimbursement for whopping security related expenditures incurred by the State in fighting insurgency for years now. The senior Congress MP from the State said the Central Government had so far remained non-responsive to Congress party?s demand for opening a petroleum products trade link with Bangladesh as the State produces petroleum products far in excess of the requirement of the entire North Eastern region. He said exporting petroleum products from Assam to neighbouring Bangladesh would be more viable economically than to sell it in the rest of the country. Moreover, Bangladesh would also get it cheaper if it imports petroleum products from Assam.
Addressing the rally which was attended by AICC general secretary, Mohsina Kidwai, besides all senior APCC functionaries, State ministers and Congress MLAs, the Chief Minister basked in the success of his Government to secure over Rs 947 crore Central fund for rural development during the last 11 months. He said the Central government led by the BJP, the sworn enemy of Congress, would not have released the fund had it not been convinced about the sincerity of his Government in implementing DRDA schemes. The Chief Minister called upon the party workers to remain vigilant on implementation of DRDA schemes at the panchayat level. ?You toiled for five long years to bring the party back to the seat of power in the State, now it?s your responsibility to see that the Government remains focused on people?s welfare.? The CM told the party workers.
The Chief Minister while claiming that the law and order situation had improved a lot in the State and industries and financial institutions have reposed confidence in the Government, said that he was still not hundred per cent satisfied with the performance of his one-year-old Government. Talking about the plan for future, Sri Gogoi said focus would be on empowerment of women who constitutes more than 50 per cent of the total State population. He announced that 30 per cent jobs in government sector would be reserved for women. The State would capitalise on Sarbasiksha Abhiyan to spread the light of education among down-trodden women in char areas and among ex-tea tribes and SC and ST communities.
Addressing the rally Smt Kidwai called upon the industry to set up ventures in the State where the situation had improved a lot of late. Earlier, addressing the rally, State Health and DRDA Minister, Dr Bhumidhar Barman in his typical rustic style criticised the ?Ravan party? (AGP party) for looting DRDA money during their tenure. He alleged that the AGP Government had looted all the money that had come to provide maternity benefit to below poverty line women in the State. ?Now as we have focused on development and people welfare schemes, the smile is back on our rural poor people. It tells a lot about the achievement of Gogoi Government,? Dr Barman said. PWD Minister, Sarat Barkataky earlier welcomed the dignitaries to the public rally. A large number of Congress workers from different parts of the State were brought to Judges? Field by Party leaders to attend the rally today.