GUWAHATI, Aug 16 - The government is committed to building an Assam free from �foreigners, corruption, terrorism and pollution�, and will follow the policy of �sabka saath, sabka vikas� with an aim to make the State one of the best in the country.
In his address after unfurling the national flag at the Veterinary College ground at Khanapara here on Monday on the occasion of Independence Day, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also said that the State government will adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards insurgency.
�We are committed to an evergreen Assam free from foreigners, corruption, terrorism and pollution. �Actions speak louder than words� � driven by this proverb and guidance of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have set our guiding principles and embarked on a series of activities to make Assam a symbol of peace, prosperity and unity,� he said.
Sonowal added, �The greater Assamese people living in Barak and Brahmaputra valleys and the hill districts have given a decisive mandate in favour of this new government. I, being a public servant of the State, will dedicate myself with all might and devotion for the service of the people. In order to fulfil the aims and aspirations of our students, youths, farmers, workers, etc. the government will work relentlessly day in and day out. Making the poorest of the poor economically viable, our government will be working assiduously and conscientiously.�
He said the government will march forward striking a cordial and harmonious relationship among the four pillars of democracy � Executive, Judiciary, Legislature and the Press � based on fundamental values.
�Five lakh government employees, along with elected representatives of Lok Sabha, Legislative Assembly, municipal bodies and panchayats will continue to maintain a good relationship with the people in general and take their suggestions and advice to bring in visible changes in our State,� said the Chief Minister.
He added that following the motto �sabka saath, sabka vikas�, �we are committed to making Assam one of the top five states in the country. We are committed to an administrative machinery that is fair, effective and result-oriented, transparent and accountable,� and added that a policy of zero tolerance towards militancy and insurgency will be followed.
�Our government has taken appropriate and adequate steps for the balanced development of towns, cities, char and tea garden areas. To ensure development of all areas of the State, we have already announced a slew of initiatives in the Budget,� he said.
He added, �Our government is committed to safeguarding the interests of each and every ethnic community, tribe and race. To take our national commitment to its logical end we are on a mission mode to complete the NRC updating work by 2017. With a view to preventing illegal influx through the porous border once and for all, sealing the Indo-Bangladesh border is high on our priority list. We have taken steps for fortifying the barbed wire fence along the border. The Department of Border Areas Development will be rechristened as Border Protection and Development Department to give more teeth to it.�
