New Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma appeals Paresh Baruah to join peace process
Guwahati, May 10: Addressing the first press conference after swearing-in as the Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed to all the armed rebel groups including the ULFA supremo Paresh Baruah to join the peace process.
Sarma said that the state has witnessed new heights of peace during the last five years during the tenure of the BJP government.
"We have seen peace in Bodoland and Karbi hills. And the new government would like to appeal to all the armed organisations to return to the mainstream to join the peace process through dialogue," Sarma said.
"Especially, I would like to appeal ULFA leadership helmed by Paresh Baruah to return so that we can bring peace to the state through discussions and dialogue. Killings and abductions only deteriorate the situation. These don't bring solutions. I would like to believe that in the next five years, we will be able to bring them back to the mainstream to establish peace."
Among others, Sarma said that tackling the COVID-19 situation in the state will be the new government's priority which will have its maiden cabinet on May 11.
"We will discuss the measures to tackle the prevailing COVID situation in the state in our first cabinet tomorrow (May 11)," Sarma said.
"Apart from that, we will discuss all the issues which we had promised to the people during the elections – starting from various schemes to the micro-finance loans. We also promised about making the state free from flood. So, from tomorrow onwards, we will be working on these with a specific time frame."
After he was unanimously selected as the new chief minister, Sarma took oath on May 10 along with 13 other ministers in an event held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati. Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi administered the oath.
Others who took the oath are Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Atul Bora, Parimal Suklabaidya, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Keshab Mahanta, Ajanta Neog and Pijush Hazarika. Apart from them, Ronuj Pegu, UG Brahma, Sanjay Kishan, Jogen Mohan, Ashok Singhal and Bimal Bora also took the oath.
