Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said the government wants to restore peace in Assam and hoped that good reason prevails upon the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom to end the decades-long insurgency problem in the state.
On talks with ULFA, which received a major setback last year with four of its top leaders arrested in Bangladesh, he said: "Though we tried to bring them (ULFA) to the negotiation table in 2006, they backed out. I hope this time good reason prevails.
"If Assam becomes peaceful, nothing can stop it from making rapid progress as the state has tremendous potential in all spheres," a statement by Guwahati-based Nanda Talukdar Foundation quoted the prime minister as saying.
Dr Singh, who was presented with a copy of the foundation's coffee table book highlighting the heritage of Assam, said, "We are also in touch with our neighbours so that insurgents from the northeast do not get shelter in their territories."
Appreciating the 11 writers of "Assam" for pooling their resources, wisdom and skill in publishing it, he said the unique share-holder pattern formulated in bringing out the book will encourage other writers.
Dr Singh said his government was trying to restore the pre-Partition connectivity and logistics that were available to Assam and northeast through negotiations with Bangladesh.
According to the writers, "this is the first coffee table book on Assam, portraying everything about the state in a positive manner and aimed at correcting the 'distorted' opinion about the state."
The Rs 2,500-book, promoted by Nanda Talukdar Foundation, has contributions from 11 professionals from diverse fields.
