Tuesday, April 4 2006 16:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: The Congress government in Assam today (Apr 04, 2006) took the credit for creating a conducive atmosphere for holding peaceful assembly elections in the state and praised the proscribed ULFA and other insurgent outfits for not unleashing violence.

"I give credit to the ULFA and all sections of insurgent groups. Credit goes to us for maintaining an atmosphere of peace and instilling a sense of security," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told sources at a press meet here.

"We started the peace process with the ULFA and it is we who brought them to the negotiation table. Talks with all insurgents for bringing peace in Assam are our topmost priority for its all round development", he said.

Gogoi also thanked Dr Indira Roisam Goswami for convincing the ULFA to come for talks.

Voter turnout of over 70 per cent

Thanking the people for coming out in "such large numbers and recording a voter turnout of over 70 per cent" in the first phase of assembly polls yesterday, the chief minister said, "After a very long time, such a peaceful election was held in Assam."

The Assam government, he said, had taken up the security issue with the Election Commission following which 300 companies were sent to the state.

Gogoi was confident that the outcome of the hustings would be in favour of Congress.

Accusing the opposition of not wanting peace, the chief minister asserted, "We don't want innocent people to be harassed."

To a question on the law and order situation in the ULFA hotbeds of Nalbari and Barpeta district during the second phase of polling on April 10, Gogoi said, "Large number of insurgent groups is there but we have already identified the sensitive areas there."