*Govt. to deal firmly with any terror design: Manmohan*
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200703081823.htm New Delhi, March 8 (PTI): Sending a tough message, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the Government would deal firmly to defeat any terrorist design but would not hesitate to talk to those who want peace. "At the outset, let me say that I have always condemned violence and extremism in Assam and elsewhere and never hesitated to say that we can negotiate only with those who want peace, not with those who kill innocent people," he said replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in Lok Sabha. "We will never hesitate to sit down and talk to a fellow Indian - howsoever misguided he or she may be - if such conversation can bring peace to our people," Singh said referring to Assam and ULFA. But at the same time, the government would never compromise with the unity and integrity of the country or allow those who killed innocent people to go unpunished, he said. It was with this in view that his government began a dialogue with the People's Consultative Group so that it might gradually extend to ULFA as well, he said adding as talks did not make headway, action by security forces continued. "Mere mention of one insurgent group or the other will not serve any purpose. What is required is the will and resolve to maintain peace and order and defeat any terrorist design. About this, there should be no doubt whatsoever about the firmness of our resolve," he said.
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