Assam: Himanta urges armed groups to shun violence on ‘International Day of Peace’

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged the extremist outfits to shun violence and come for talks in the best interests of the state.

CM Sarma on Saturday took to microblogging site X to make the appeal on the occasion of ‘International Day of Peace.’

“Today on #InternationalDayOfPeace, I call upon the armed groups to come to the discussion table and together chart a new dawn for Assam,” Sarma wrote on X.

While saying that violent and terror activities will not result in any positive outcome, the Chief Minister said discussions would ensure Assam’s development.

 “Violence and terror will never yield positive results for the State, while discussions will ensure Assam's ascend as a premier State,” he added in his post on X.

While the majority of the insurgent groups, once active in Assam, have laid down arms and joined the mainstream, the Paresh Baruah faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) continues to stay away from the dialogue process.

CM Sarma on several occasions has urged the ULFA-I chief to come for talks.

However, the recent activities by the banned organisation have been seen as an attempt to make its presence felt indicating the outfit is attempting to make a comeback.