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Despite the continuing violence unleashed by the separatist United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the deaths of over 70 non-Assamese migrant labourers, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reiterated on Tuesday that the 33rd National Games will take place in Assam as scheduled.

"I want to say that the National Games will take place in Guwahati from February 9 to 18, 2007, as per schedule, featuring 32 events, the highest to be held in any National Games. People should ignore comments from a section, guided by the ULFA, which is raising questions about the safety of the event," Gogoi told reporters in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Concern about the security aspect had been raised by the Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) in the backdrop of the recent series of killings by the ULFA.

"We have beefed up security. Twenty companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed for the Games and one IGP has been assigned only to oversee security during the Games," Gogoi said.

All the 33 Olympic associations have given entry for the Guwahati National Games, Gogoi added, and rejected reports that the Games equipment had not arrived.

Meanwhile, Tarun Gogoi has condemned the ULFA's demand for sovereignty for Assam and its recent threat to Hindi-speaking people to quit the state.

Gogoi vehemently opposed the ULFA's demand, saying that Assam is a part of India and any Indian citizen could live the state. He also said that Assamese people have the right to go and live in any part of the country.

Assam, Gogoi declared, is independent enough to decide its own destiny and so there is no need for another independence. The state has enough resources and "the Central Government is providing us with sufficient aid. We are doing well being a part of India."

Gogoi asserted that nobody in Assam supports the ULFA's activities and that everyone is condemning it.

He made it clear that unless the outfit shuns the path of violence, there was no question of starting any dialogue with it.

"The Government," Gogoi said, "is determined to reply ULFA's violent activities with continued Army operation, which was started against the outfit since January 8, 2007."

In the recent spate of militant attacks in the Upper Assam and Lower Assam areas, 78 people have so far lost their lives. Most of the victims were Hindi-speaking migrants.

Though the ULFA has denied its involvement in such activities, the Assam Government says it had clear proof that the banned outfit is responsible for the carnage.

Labels: Politics

posted by a correspondent @ 8:10 AM

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