Centre rules out shifting National Games from Guwahati

New Delhi, Jan 12 (UNI) The Centre today asserted that the National Games, scheduled to be held in Guwahati next month, would not be shifted dispite the serial attacks by ULFA which killed about 70 people in the state and assured to provide adequate security measures for it.

Home Minister V K Duggal, who held a high level meeting here to review the security situation in Asom, told reporters here, '' National Games is being held in Asom for the first time. It is the largest event that the state has held. It is very important and a huge image building event for Asom. The whole of Asom is looking forward to it.'' He said that the preparation for the Games are going on and infrastructure projects are being completed. The contractors, Larsen and Tubro, are likely to hand over them to the state government next week on January 16 or January 17.

The Home Secretary assured the state Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, who attended the meeting, to provide all kind of assistance to the state governemnt to hold the Games peacefully. The state government has demanded additional central para military forces for these games which the centre has promised to grant.

He also said that steps are being taken to provide security in the trains coming and going to other states from Asom. Adequate security measures are being taken so that atheletes, coaches, people who want to see the games, mediapersons and other passengers could travel to the state safely, he said.

The assurance is significant in view of the ULFA call to boycott the National Games and serial attacks launched by the insurgent group on Bihari migrant workers in the state.

UNI