Sonowal lists priorities, calls for Team Assam

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 16: Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal on Monday urged the people to join hands to make ‘Team Assam’ and move ahead boldly on a new path with hopes and promises aplenty.

Unfurling the tiol flag at Veteriry field in Khapara to set off the central Independence Day celebrations by the State government, Sonowal said that his government believes in equality of all citizens irrespective of caste, creed, language, religion, colour of skin or gender.

“Everyone should reap the same benefits from the State which is also an edifice for a welfare state. Our efforts are on to deliver justice to all sections of the people of the State. We are committed to recognize all ethnic tribes and safeguard their interests,” he said.

“We are committed to an evergreen Assam free from foreigners, corruption, terrorism and pollution,” he added.

Chief Minister Sonowal said that his government has adopted a policy of zero-tolerance towards militancy and insurgency.

On the burning issue of Bangladeshi influx and its adverse impact on the indigenous people of the State, Sonowal said his government is committed to safeguard the interests of each and every ethnic community, tribe and race living in Assam. “To take our tiol commitment to its logical end, we are on a mission mode to complete updating the tiol Register of Citizens (NRC) by 2017,” he said.

The Chief Minister further said that sealing the India-Bangladesh border to prevent illegal influx is high on the priority list of his government. “We have taken steps for fortifying the barbed wire fence along the border. The Border Areas Department will be soon be rechristened as Border Protection and Development Department to give it more teeth,” Sonowal said.

He said that the State government will take steps to upgrade the Police Training College in Dergaon to the level of tiol Police Training Academy by introducing modern gadgets and modules of training.

The CM further said, “We are in the process of establishing a Skill Development Department which will embark on a skill development mission in the State on a massive scale.”

Sonowal said that in order to promote Assamese art and culture, the State government will take steps to set up ‘study circles’ in selected universities across the country. It is also considering a proposal for setting up of a cultural university in Majuli.

Meanwhile, suspected ULFA (I) militants triggered altogether five IED blasts in Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts on Independence Day on Monday. No casualty was reported from the blast sites.

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