Prime Minister Mamnohan Singh on Friday expressed his happiness over the developmental works in Assam but cautioned the state to bring in more transparency in to the working of the autonomous district councils of the state.
Stressing the need of transparency into the functioning of the government, the Prime Minister said, “The establishment of autonomous councils has provided a forum to address genuine needs of people. We must help these councils to build capacities to ensure that they are able to fulfil their responsibilities in a manner which is responsive, transparent and accountable.”
Referring his recent meetings with Ulfa leaders, Dr Singh said that it was a good beginning and ignited the hope of peace in Assam and Northeast.
“I was happy to meet representatives of the Ulfa recently in New Delhi. The discussion was a good beginning and has given me hope for Assam and the Northeast,” he said after presenting the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial awards for 2008 and 2009 at the Pragjyoti ITA auditorium here.
Dr Singh also said that he believes that dialogue was the only method for fostering greater understanding and resolving vexed social, political and economic problems.
The top Ulfa leadership, led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, had called on the prime minister on February 14 after meeting Union home minister P. Chidambaram and holding the preliminary round of talks with Union home secretary G.K. Pillai on February 10.
The reference of Dr Singh about the autonomous district council has assumed special significance in view of the Gogoi government facing charges of defending ministers involved in the `1,000-crore scam in NC Hills autonomous district council.
Former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who called on the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan, also submitted memorandum pointing out rampant corruption being exposed by CAG in its report.