Himanta Biswa Sarma: Youth will be the biggest losers if Paresh Baruah disturbs peace in Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 27 spoke about the issue underlining the necessity for peace in the state and said that prolonged disturbance could ruin the future of the youths of the state.

CM Sarma said, "The biggest loser of a violent and disturbed Assam will be its youth as no industry will feel confident about investing in the State." He also impressed it upon them that a peaceful environment was a prerequisite if the state was to carry on growing and prospering unabated.

Chief Minister Sarma called upon ULFA (I) chief Paresh Baruah to desist from their attempts aimed at 'disturbing the region'. "I again call upon Paresh Barua not to vitiate the atmosphere of peace in Assam to ensure our growth trajectory remains unabated," Sarma said.

This call for peace comes after Sarma had, on August 15, appealed to Baruah to refrain from anti-development activities in Assam. The appeal was made following a series of bomb threats claimed by ULFA-I across multiple locations, including Guwahati, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur and Nagaon.

The bomb threats were reported to be targeted to explode between 6 AM and 12 noon. 

Sarma reacted to the threats and said that there was a need for economic development as compared to "security-imperialism". "Assam will see fast economic growth with the semiconductor plant of Tata and other proposed investments in businesses. We have about 1.4 million jobless youths who wish to find jobs within the State. The disruptive activities will destroy those prospects as well as the reputation of our State."

The Chief Minister said his government is determined to find all solutions through dialogue instead of conflict. "I appeal to Paresh Baruah and ULFA to hold discussions instead of creating trouble," Sarma said. "We should work for peace and prosperity for the people of Assam rather than creating obstacles.