Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma On Saturday, banned ULFA (I) chief Paresh Barua was asked not to indulge in any activity that would jeopardise the future of the organisation. Youth The state is poised to become a “powerful state” in the next ten years. Speaking at The Assam Tribune’s Samvaad 2024 here, Sarma said planting of bombs across the state on August 15 was a “matter of deep concern which may impact the ongoing development and growth of the state.”
The Chief Minister said, “We are moving ahead with determination and perseverance. I am confident that if peace prevails in the state, the ecosystem remains the same and the youth remain cooperative and enthusiastic, we will become a powerful state in the Indian landscape in the next ten years.”
He said, however, there was grave concern over the placement of explosives across the state. “I appeal to the ULFA (I) chief from this platform to not indulge in any such activity which may endanger the future of the youth of the state,” he said.
Police had recovered “bomb-like materials” from at least eight places, including two in Guwahati, after the banned ULFA (I) claimed it had planted bombs at 24 places to carry out a series of blasts in Assam on Independence Day.
The Chief Minister said that in a democracy there will continue to be conflicts and clashes of ideas, but it must be ensured that Assam remains safe and peaceful.
He said there may be differences but these can be resolved through dialogue and many other ways, but not by “creating terror in our motherland”.
Sarma said, “We have to secure our motherland first, only then can we find a solution to any problem. No state can prosper if more problems are created in the guise of resolving crises.”
The Chief Minister said that the recent attack by some organisations against non-Assamese communities has sent a wrong signal outside the state.
He said, “We should understand that many ambitious and talented Assamese youths live outside the state to earn their livelihood. I encourage them to do so because the country is ours and we can go everywhere.”
He said, “If Assam wages a war against non-Assamese people here, the same can happen against Assamese people living outside the state. Then where will our youth go?”
Sarma said there is a section of intellectuals and some people who “sometimes directly or indirectly indulge in blind nationalism” but the future of Assam does not lie in it.
“We will need the support of the Centre and various industrial houses. When we vent our anger against non-Assamese people, it hurts them too. They will feel that Assam is an unsafe place and they will not come here. We cannot foster such a situation,” the chief minister said.
He said this should not be the destiny or fate of Assam but “once we get our share of prosperity, we should allow people of the entire country to enjoy it like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and other states are doing for the youth of our state.”
Sarma said that at a time when the state is “moving towards development and prosperity”, “we must channelise the energy of our youth towards education and entrepreneurship to create a rich human resource” that will contribute to the development of the state and the country.
He said it is also a fact that no society can survive without its culture and heritage and “we have to be vocal and develop our own ways to protect our language, culture and heritage.”
Sarma said the state has opened its doors for investment and development but the state cannot compromise with its culture and language.
He said the state was “earlier known for agitations, floods and militancy but now it is known as one of the fastest growing and investment friendly states of the country.”
“It took us time to change the perception but nobody wants to see Assam as a dependent state but as a state that contributes to the country’s economy. We will emerge as a state within ten years that will impact the country’s economy, development and growth,” he said.
He claimed that Tata, Reliance, Adani, Dassault and other major industrial houses have chosen Assam for investment. He said, “We want the youth of Assam to become job givers from job seekers.”
Outlining his dream for Guwahati, the chief minister said the city is not only considered the gateway to the Northeast but also the “gateway to South East Asia and with several upcoming initiatives, its landscape is set to change dramatically.”
Addressing the dialogue virtually, North Eastern Region Development Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the North Eastern Region is the foundation stone of development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘Developed India’.
He said the investment of Rs 81,000 crore in various projects in the region has ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity.
Scindia said the region has emerged as a gateway for trade, culture and connectivity to South East Asia, transforming the Northeast from a remote region of India to the engine of the country’s growth.
The Chief Minister said, “We are moving ahead with determination and perseverance. I am confident that if peace prevails in the state, the ecosystem remains the same and the youth remain cooperative and enthusiastic, we will become a powerful state in the Indian landscape in the next ten years.”
He said, however, there was grave concern over the placement of explosives across the state. “I appeal to the ULFA (I) chief from this platform to not indulge in any such activity which may endanger the future of the youth of the state,” he said.
Police had recovered “bomb-like materials” from at least eight places, including two in Guwahati, after the banned ULFA (I) claimed it had planted bombs at 24 places to carry out a series of blasts in Assam on Independence Day.
The Chief Minister said that in a democracy there will continue to be conflicts and clashes of ideas, but it must be ensured that Assam remains safe and peaceful.
He said there may be differences but these can be resolved through dialogue and many other ways, but not by “creating terror in our motherland”.
Sarma said, “We have to secure our motherland first, only then can we find a solution to any problem. No state can prosper if more problems are created in the guise of resolving crises.”
The Chief Minister said that the recent attack by some organisations against non-Assamese communities has sent a wrong signal outside the state.
He said, “We should understand that many ambitious and talented Assamese youths live outside the state to earn their livelihood. I encourage them to do so because the country is ours and we can go everywhere.”
He said, “If Assam wages a war against non-Assamese people here, the same can happen against Assamese people living outside the state. Then where will our youth go?”
Sarma said there is a section of intellectuals and some people who “sometimes directly or indirectly indulge in blind nationalism” but the future of Assam does not lie in it.
“We will need the support of the Centre and various industrial houses. When we vent our anger against non-Assamese people, it hurts them too. They will feel that Assam is an unsafe place and they will not come here. We cannot foster such a situation,” the chief minister said.
He said this should not be the destiny or fate of Assam but “once we get our share of prosperity, we should allow people of the entire country to enjoy it like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and other states are doing for the youth of our state.”
Sarma said that at a time when the state is “moving towards development and prosperity”, “we must channelise the energy of our youth towards education and entrepreneurship to create a rich human resource” that will contribute to the development of the state and the country.
He said it is also a fact that no society can survive without its culture and heritage and “we have to be vocal and develop our own ways to protect our language, culture and heritage.”
Sarma said the state has opened its doors for investment and development but the state cannot compromise with its culture and language.
He said the state was “earlier known for agitations, floods and militancy but now it is known as one of the fastest growing and investment friendly states of the country.”
“It took us time to change the perception but nobody wants to see Assam as a dependent state but as a state that contributes to the country’s economy. We will emerge as a state within ten years that will impact the country’s economy, development and growth,” he said.
He claimed that Tata, Reliance, Adani, Dassault and other major industrial houses have chosen Assam for investment. He said, “We want the youth of Assam to become job givers from job seekers.”
Outlining his dream for Guwahati, the chief minister said the city is not only considered the gateway to the Northeast but also the “gateway to South East Asia and with several upcoming initiatives, its landscape is set to change dramatically.”
Addressing the dialogue virtually, North Eastern Region Development Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the North Eastern Region is the foundation stone of development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘Developed India’.
He said the investment of Rs 81,000 crore in various projects in the region has ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity.
Scindia said the region has emerged as a gateway for trade, culture and connectivity to South East Asia, transforming the Northeast from a remote region of India to the engine of the country’s growth.
