Insurgency Will Run Rampant if Economy is Not Taken Care Of: Tarun Gogoi

Guwahati, November 30, 2019:

Three-time former Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi asserted that Economic Development was key to curbing insurgency in the State during his long tenure.

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Discussing the issue of insurgency in the Northeast, Gogoi said, "Number one is economic development, even for sports and peace. Political right follows. Then, we need to get mass support."

Development must come first and peace will follow, Gogoi stated. "Infrastructure, particularly, road and bridges, must be built, and more jobs as well -- people's attention will be diverted and insurgency will be checked", Gogoi said.

According to Gogoi, economic planning is number one, the movement to improve economic condition and usher in prosperity and job generation is what it takes to curb the phenomenon of insurgency, which is widespread in the Northeast.

During the discussion, Gogoi also stated that the role of his Government was to bring the militants into the mainstream, and not "finish them."

Mr Gogoi further added that the only way to finish insurgency in the state is by negotiating, and there is no other alternative to finish the problem in the region.

Reacting to the recent joinings into ULFA, Gogoi said that it is primarily because of the lack of economic development in the region. "Whereas the GDP should have risen, it has plunged to 4.5%...youths are unemployed. We have to provide youths with employment opportunities, develop education infrastructure in the state", he said, adding that insurgency might spread like wildfire if these basic issues are not resolved.

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