The situation is fast returning to normal in the violence-hit Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang districts, where tight vigil has been mounted, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Wednesday.
In his customary Independence Day address, after hoisting the national flag here, Mr. Gogoi said the government had taken steps to control the clashes, provide security to villages and inspire confidence in the people to return home. He also vowed to deal firmly with perpetrators of the violence.
Appeal to shun violence
“I appeal to each and every one, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, to shun violence and work for peace and harmony among different communities,” he said, pitching development as the only weapon to foil the designs of the divisive forces.
Assam Accord
Mr. Gogoi said his government was committed to implementing the Assam Accord in its true spirit. “While implementing it…, we will ensure that all steps are taken to detect and deport foreigners, even while protecting genuine Indian citizens.”
In this context, he pointed out that work on the National Registrar of Citizens and the photo electoral roll had started.
Mr. Gogoi said the security situation in the State had improved significantly, with a number of underground outfits coming overground. He hoped the other outfits groups would also appreciate the sentiments of the people and come forward to create durable peace.
Referring to erosion, he said that since 1954, the State had lost approximately 4.27 lakh hectares of land, or 7.40 per cent of the plains, to the scourge that affected 1,30,000 families. To help these families, a rehabilitation authority was being constituted and a corpus fund was proposed.
