A Correspondent
MORIGAON: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday vowed to make the Jonbeel Mela a global tourist attraction with adequate assistance from the government. The fair, which began on January 17, continued for three days with the assimilation of hill and plain tribes and people from all walks of life.
Speaking at the closing ceremony at Jonbeel Pathar in Morigaon district on Saturday, Chief Minister Sonowal said that Jonbeel Mela with its barter system had the potential of turning itself into a major tourist attraction. He also announced Rs. 1 crore from untied fund for the promotion of Jonbeel Mela. He also said that the three-day Jonbeel Mela, which turns into a confluence of humanity, gives an opportunity to present the diversities and strengthen the harmonious co-existence of the State.
Chief Minister Sonowal also said that his government was duty bound to protect the interests of the indigenous communities of the State. He, therefore, appealed to All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) along with other intelligentsia to lend their full cooperation to look into full implementation of Clause VI of the Assam Accord which would ensure safeguarding the interests of the ethnic communities of Assam. He also said that the previous governments, both in the State as well as in the Centre, only paid lip service to serve the interests of the people of Assam and nothing concrete was done on ground. However, the present Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took keen interest for the protection of the rights and privileges of the people of Assam.