Wednesday, January 26 2005 15:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: Amidst two bomb explosions at the main official Republic Day function in Guwahati, Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh today (Jan 26, 2005) called upon the banned ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) to reciprocate to his Government's invitation for peace talks.

In his R-day address, Singh said the Government was keen to begin the peace talks with the ULFA, which should also show reciprocal gestures.

"The State Government is keeping its door open for negotiations", he added.

Following the ceasefire by the NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland), the Centre offered to hold talks with them and accordingly asked it to nominate representatives for the peace talks, the governor pointed out.

In the case of ethnic insurgent outfits DHD and UPDS, too, he said, the State and Central Governments were holding talks on their demands.

Asserting, "The law and order situation has improved", he said, "The insurgents in desperation resort to sporadic attacks on soft targets".

Remembering the extremist's bomb blast at the last Independence Day parade ground in Dhemaji killing 13 persons, including five children, Singh said, people condemned such cowardly acts of violence and serial blasts.

Referring to the unprecedented floods last year causing immense loss of lives, infrastructure and property, he said, the Centre rendered prompt assistance to the State in terms of relief and rehabilitation materials and funds.

The Government had also undertaken several steps for improving the State's economy, rural development, employment generation avenues, besides mitigation of Government employees problems in order to improve the work culture.