Guwahati, Nov 23: Three Union Ministers and state chief minister today made a fervent appeal to the people to put an end to ethnic violence in Assam. In a joint appeal, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Union Minister for Development of the North East C P Thakur, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Swami Chinmayananda and Union Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakravarty, have called for establishing permanent peace in the state.

"We jointly condemn the killings of innocent and poor people in Assam in the past few days and appeal to the peace-loving people to stand up against the evil design of the anti-national forces", they said. The state of Assam is known for its communal harmony and has a history of peaceful co-existence, they said adding that the people have stood against such evil design in the past.

"We appeal to all the political parties, student and social organisations to immediately fight the forces inimical to the unity and integrity of the country", they added.

Meanwhile, the team of Union ministers led by Thakur today left for Tinsukia district, scene of recent violence against Biharis, to take stock of the situation.

Bureau Report