PM talks tough against ULFA; tours affected areas

Dibrugarh, Asom, Jan 16 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today firmly told the ULFA that there would be no compromise with militant outfits indulging in violence and bloodshed, while assuring the migrant workers in Asom that the government would use all resources at its command to protect their lives and property.

At the end of a whirlwind tour of the areas hit by ULFA violence in which more than 60 people were killed in Upper Asom, he announced a compensation of Rs two lakhs each for the affected families, in addition to the state government's ex-gratia of Rs three lakhs.

Listing the steps the Centre had taken to improve the security situation, he asked the Hindi-speaking migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh not to succumb to fear and leave their places of livelihood in Asom.

While visiting Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, which were worst hit by renewed violence by ULFA cadres since January six, Dr Singh spent nearly 45 minutes with the families of the victims at Musalhari Chapuri and assured them that the government would extend whatever help was required to restart their lives.

"We will stand ready to help you in any manner that may be necessary," he told one of the family members of the victims who wept uncontrollably.

Dr Singh, who was accompanied by his wife Gurusharan Kaur, consoled the victims' families and told them that the government would help them to set up shops or any other assitance they wanted.

He promised jobs to qualified persons from the families of the victims.

Pointing out that there was a "very large constituency of peace," Dr Singh regretted that the ULFA had restarted a "mindless cycle of violence" after three rounds of discussions during which the government had created an atmosphere conducive for direct talks.

In this context, he pointed out that there was a surge of anti-ULFA sentiment in Asom.

Dr Singh held a 30-minute long review meeting with Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and top police and army officers at the airport here as soon as he arrived here from Kolkata.

He came to Kolkata last evening after his three-day engagement in India-ASEAN and EAS Summit at Cebu in the Philippines.

"I am sure that if we persist with the process of dialogue, a solution can certainly be found in Asom today just as it has been found for many other groups and entities," Dr Singh said.

With a view to instilling confidence in the minds of the people, he said counter-insurgency operations, patrolling and combing had been intensified. The Chief Minister would be in charge of the Unified Command to monitor and supervise security measures.

Asked if the government was hoping that the insurgent groups would come to the negotiating table, Dr Singh said the Indian government had shown "enough resilience" to deal with these militant groups.

Whenever they entered into dialogue, mainstream absorbed them. "We have an example in Mizoram...We have a polity that recognised all cultures and sub-cultures." "Nobody needs to have any doubt about our credibility," he said, indicating that the government is always willing to talk to any insurgent group that seeks to shun violence and join the mainstream.

Asked if the government would fully use the army to "degrade" ULFA, Dr Singh said "We will perform all our duties with due diligence. That includes primary duty of any civilised government to protect the lives of its citizens." Asked if Pakistan's ISI had any hand in the renewed violence by ULFA,the Prime Minister said "I don't want to comment about the involvement of other agencies." When a reporter asked if there was any link between the ULFA and militant outfits in Myanmar and Bangladesh, Dr Singh said he had talked to his Myanmar counterpart about this only yesterday in Cebu in the Philippines. "We have exchanges our views on the need to intensify our cooperation in this area.

"I am assured that Myanmar would help in the operation against ULFA if adequate information is made available to them," he said.

UNI