’No talks with militant outfits indulging in violence’

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, January 12: Union Home Minister Rajth Singh on Monday categorically said that there would be no talks with those militant outfits that indulge in violence, though doors were open for talks with other outfits.

“We will not talk with such extremist groups that indulge in bloodshed,” asserted Singh, while addressing the closing ceremony of the 19th tiol Youth Festival here.

Appealing to the insurgent groups based in the region to stop their violent activities, the Home Minister said, “They don’t understand the poor people’s problems, who are being massacred and the youths cannot remain silent but have to fight them, however, powerful they are.”

“Those groups indulging in violence, division of people and extortion have to be shunned. I seek your help to fight violence and insurgency,” he appealed.

The Home Minister said, “For Mother India, Kashmir is her crown and the northeastern region is one of her strong arms,” adding, “Guwahati is not the gateway to the northeast but a highway connecting New Delhi to the rest of South Asia.”

“India is a country having highest number of young people in the world and that’s why it’s a country of hope. I believe that our country can face any big challenges.”

The Home Minister further stated that Swami Vivekanda was the first global youth who tried to bind all the citizens of the world through the message of universal brotherhood and peace.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, “This festival has augmented in driving away the false notions regarding the region in general and Assam in particular.”  He appealed to the visiting participants to be the ambassadors of Assam, carrying the true message about the entire region.