Guwahati, April 1 (AGENCIES): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday urged voters in Assam not to be misled by false promises by the opposition and give the Congress a third term to rule the state. "My appeal to the people of Assam is to give the Congress yet another chance to carry forward the development work undertaken by the government in the past 10 years and not be misled by the propaganda of the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)," he told an election rally at Dhakuwakhana in eastern Assam, about 500 km from Guwahati.
Singh was in Assam to address an election rally -- his first. He later left for New Delhi. The first phase of voting for the assembly polls takes place Monday. "When the Congress government took office in 2001, the state's economic status was in shambles. We had to really work hard to bring back Assam to a stage where we can proudly claim it is on the right track now," the prime minister said. "Development work in Assam was literally not moving at all during the AGP regime. The law and order situation was very bad."
Lauding the last 10 years of the government under Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Manmohan Singh 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."
Also Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the prospect of resolving the ULFA issue looks bright after his “positive” talks with the outfit’s leaders. “I was happy to meet the ULFA leaders and the talks with them were positive. The future of resolving the issue looks bright,” Dr. Singh told an election meeting in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, as people came out in droves ignoring the 12-hour Assam bandh called by the Paresh Barua led ULFA anti-talk faction to protest the Prime Minister’s visit.
“I believe there is enough flexibility in the Indian Constitution to fulfil the aspirations of different sections of the people and do justice to them,” he said. Stating that the Congress government was ready to talk to all those prepared to leave the path of violence and negotiate, he congratulated the people for thwarting the attempt of forces attempting to destroy peace and harmony in the State.
“Development is possible only when peace prevails and both the Central and State governments have taken several measures to bring peace and development to the state.” The Centre and the State governments also believed in fulfilling the aspirations of the indigenous people through territorial and hill councils.
The Prime Minister also announced a Rs. 250-crore development package for the Bodoland Territorial Council. “We want to help these councils by giving them the necessary power so that they can fulfill their duties towards their community in a responsible manner,” Dr. Singh said.
Singh was in Assam to address an election rally -- his first. He later left for New Delhi. The first phase of voting for the assembly polls takes place Monday. "When the Congress government took office in 2001, the state's economic status was in shambles. We had to really work hard to bring back Assam to a stage where we can proudly claim it is on the right track now," the prime minister said. "Development work in Assam was literally not moving at all during the AGP regime. The law and order situation was very bad."
Lauding the last 10 years of the government under Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Manmohan Singh 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."
Also Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the prospect of resolving the ULFA issue looks bright after his “positive” talks with the outfit’s leaders. “I was happy to meet the ULFA leaders and the talks with them were positive. The future of resolving the issue looks bright,” Dr. Singh told an election meeting in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, as people came out in droves ignoring the 12-hour Assam bandh called by the Paresh Barua led ULFA anti-talk faction to protest the Prime Minister’s visit.
“I believe there is enough flexibility in the Indian Constitution to fulfil the aspirations of different sections of the people and do justice to them,” he said. Stating that the Congress government was ready to talk to all those prepared to leave the path of violence and negotiate, he congratulated the people for thwarting the attempt of forces attempting to destroy peace and harmony in the State.
“Development is possible only when peace prevails and both the Central and State governments have taken several measures to bring peace and development to the state.” The Centre and the State governments also believed in fulfilling the aspirations of the indigenous people through territorial and hill councils.
The Prime Minister also announced a Rs. 250-crore development package for the Bodoland Territorial Council. “We want to help these councils by giving them the necessary power so that they can fulfill their duties towards their community in a responsible manner,” Dr. Singh said.
