Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that there would be no talks with any group or organisation which indulges in violence. Saying that the nation has been passing through critical phase and violence was growing in the country, Mr. Singh sought cooperation from the youth in rooting out insurgency and violence.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the fiveday 19th National Youth Festival here, Mr. Singh said that violence had no place in democracy and doors were open for talks only for those who shunned it. Referring to the December 23 massacre of 63 Adivasis in Assam’s Kokrajhar and Sonitpur district by militants of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (Songbijit), Mr. Singh that government cannot remain a silent spectator to such violence.
He urged the people of the northeastern states, particularly the youth, to resist from violence and extortion in the region. He also said that there was no disconnect between the northeast region and the rest of India and added: “If Kashmir is India’s crown, then Northeast is the country’s strong arm. If any foreign force makes any attempt to cause harm to the nation, this strong arm will give a befitting reply.”
He also urged the youth to launch an effective campaign against the menace of drug addiction.
Describing unemployment as a major problem, the Home Minister sought cooperation of the state governments in addressing the problems and added that ‘make in India’ initiative of the government at the Centre would help create huge job opportunities.
He exhorted the participants to follow the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, who he said, taught that “the whole world is a family.” He said that the country’s youth were capable of transforming India into a global superpower.
Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi appealed to the participants of the youth festival to act as “ambassadors of Assam” and spread the message across the country that Assam is a beautiful place with peace loving people and blessed with natural beauty and a place of religious and communal harmony. The Chief Minister said that he was happy to learn during his personal interaction with the delegates coming from outside the state and northeast region they initially they had some apprehension about visiting the state but their perception completely changed after five days of stay in the city to take part in the festival.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowa, who was instrumental in organizing the event for the first time here, appealed to the participants to dedicate themselves in nation building. Union Minister of state for Information and Broadcasting Rajybardhan Singh Rathore, urged the participants to take pledge of making at least one friend from northeast.
