On the 137th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi asked the United Liberation Front of Asom to begin talks with the government even as the outfit struck on Monday, killing a boy and injuring 20 others.
Addressing three ceremonies to mark Gandhi Jayanti, Gogoi urged the outfit to participate in the peace process by adopting non-violent and democratic means to settle their grievances.
He urged them to take the peace process forward in the interest of Assam's development and prosperity.
The chief minister also urged the people to follow the ideals of the Mahatma to build an Assam free of violence.
As Gandhiji had fought not only for the country's political freedom but also its economic emancipation, Gogoi said his government was giving priority to alleviate poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.
ULFA militants lobbed a grenade at a Durga puja pandal in Upper Assam's Dhemaji district in the wee hours of Monday, killing a seven-year-old boy and injuring 20 others, including four policemen.
An ULFA militant was killed in an encounter with police in North Lakhimpur district on Monday morning.
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