GUWAHATI, July 26 � To order to address the grievances of the ethnic communities in the State, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Assam Pradesh, on Friday held a meeting with representatives of around 30 ethnic groups.
Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal was present in the meeting which dwelt at length on the aspirations and challenges being faced by the ethnic communities here under the prevailing situation and called for permanent peace in the State which often simmers with conflicts.
Sonowal assured that the BJP Government would look into the issues of the ethnic groups and ensure that they are not kept out of the development agenda.
Sonowal further said that development of the North East was a priority with the Modi Government, and that all promises made by the saffron party to the people of the region would be fulfilled.
The representatives raised a wide range of issues ranging from giving ST status to six communities, infiltration, big dams, floods and erosion, etc.
The groups also insisted during the meet on the preservation and promotion of the distinctive cultural heritage of the ethnic communities, harnessing nature�s bounties to promote tourism and opening employment opportunities, Constitutional safeguards for protecting the rights of the ethnic groups, etc.
It needs to be mentioned here that the meet unanimously agreed that it was important to set aside differences to usher in peace and development in the State. It was pointed out that distrust among the communities was one of the major hurdles in bringing peace.
BJP sources informed that such meets would be a continuous process to put Assam on the road to peace and progress.
Sonowal was also present in a training programme of the party that is being attended by office-bearers of the party from across the State.
The minority morcha of the party, on the other hand, distributed clothes among the poor people here in keeping with the auspicious month of Ramjan.
