National

"No Central Rule Now"

Since his appointment as Assam's governor, Lt Gen. S.K. Sinha is hard-pressed for time. He is deluged with requests for an interview at his Patna residence. Lt Gen. Sinha, who takes on the Assam posting on September 1, spoke to Outlook over the phone

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"No Central Rule Now"
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What will be your main priority after taking charge in Assam?

As I see it, my main task will be to guide and help the state government to resolve the difficulties facing the state. I am not coming there to replace the state government but to assist it. My advice to them (the state government) would be to make maximum efforts in coordinating all arms of the government—the army, the police and the civil administration—for attainment of peace and prosperity.

What role will K.P.S. Gill play in your scheme of things?

I would rather not comment on this since it is the prerogative of the chief minister to appoint someone as his security advisor. It will be unfair on my part to give any opinion in this regard.

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There is an apprehension in Assam that your appointment is the beginning of the hardline approach of the government against the militants and that it is a prelude to President's rule.

There should be no cause for worry on that count. I am not coming there with any presumptions. In any case, a crackdown on the militants cannot be avoided if the situation is seen to be getting out of control. But as I have said in the past, the ultimate solution to any insurgency is political and not military. The army is used to create an atmosphere for talks. With my experience in counterinsurgency, I believe that this can be achieved in Assam too.

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