Guwahati: The ULFA threat on Congress had no impact on the voter turnout in the first phase of polling in Assam and peace parleys with the group will continue without its elusive 'military chief' Paresh Baruah, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday said.
"Paresh Baruah-led anti-talk faction's threat to Congress workers and leaders had no impact on the voter turnout in the first phase of polling on Monday," Gogoi told reporters in Guwahati.
"BJP, AGP and others are also freely campaigning despite the ULFA threat to Congress. This is possible because we (Congress) brought peace to Assam. Though BJP and AGP do not agree that peace has returned to the state, the country has acknowledged it," he asserted.
He said peace talks with ULFA without Paresh Baruah will continue. "We want Paresh Baruah to come but if he doesn't, it does not mean there will be no talks. Talks will continue," the chief minister said.
"Even Phizo (Naga insurgent leader) did not come for the peace parleys but peace returned to Nagaland," he said.
Gogoi said BJP and other party candidates and activists were freely campaigning despite anti-talk faction of ULFA issuing threat to Congress. "This is possible because we have brought peace to Assam."
"Though BJP and AGP do not agree that peace has returned to the state, the country has acknowledged it. Now the state is on the path of development and progress. Its GDP growth is eight per cent. We should get credit for it," the chief minister said.
Gogoi alleged that during the AGP rule there was no development and the law and order situation deteriorated. "BJP has done the greatest harm to Assam. When NDA government was at the Centre, they did not allot a single project to our state."
Dismissing corruption charges against his government, Gogoi said, "if there is so much corruption by our government than how come our tax collections are so high and we have been able to release our share for receiving central development fund."
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