Asom ready to hold national games: Gogoi

New Delhi, Jan 29 (UNI) Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said foolproof security arrangements are being put in place for holding the 33rd National Games at Guwahati.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Gogoi said elaborate secuirty arrangements have been made and there is no question of any apprehension from any quarter.

He said there are several militant outfits operating from the state as well as from the entire North Eastern Region, but except for the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), nobody has given a boycott call for the national games.

The Chief Minister said his Government has urged upon the ULFA leadershp to give up the boycott call as it is not in the interest of the state.

He said it is a great honour bestowed upon the people of Asom to prove their worth and they have very successfully proved that they are capable of rising to the occasion.

Mr Gogoi claimed the 33rd National Games will be a bigger success than the previous ones. ''In the previous national games there were 28 events. It had been raised to 32, the highest number of events under the agesis of the national games,'' he added.

He said work at all venues were being completed and handed over to the Army for security reasons. For ensuring total security, additional 20 companies of paramilitary forces were being deployed which would look after the routes of the tourists, players and their possible areas of movements in the state.

Responding to questions, Mr Gogoi denied charges that his Government had paid Rs ten crores to ULFA for buying peace during the national games from February 9 to 18.

He said this was a total lie and if anybody could prove this he would quit his post.

He announced that the games will be inaugurated by United Progress Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the closing ceremony.

UNI