Addressing the second election rally of the day at Dhula, eight kms from here, Ms Gandhi said, ''Asom has no communal tension. This secular nature of the state must be preserved at all cost and the Congress only can ensure this secular fabric of the society.'' Maintaining that the scrapping of the IM(DT) Act would not cause problems for the indigenous people of the state, she assured support of the UPA government at the Centre to protect the genuine citizens.

Ms Gandhi claimed that the development of Asom during the past five years under the Congress rule was unprecedented. She said, ''The development the state has seen in the past five years during the Congress regime is unmatched.'' Exhorting the people to vote back Congress to power in the state, she alleged that the previous NDA government at the Centre had done nothing for the state.

The UPA chairperson said, '' Insurgency grew during NDA's rule.

Peace talks with the ULFA were initiated during the UPA's regime.'' She claimed that Asom had received much importance under the UPA and this trend could be taken to a higher level if the party retains power in the state.

Ms Gandhi urged the need for a peaceful atmosphere for development of the state. ''Violence cannot solve anything. Peace and coordination are necessary for progress,'' she added.

She further said the Congress would lay emphasis on development of tea tribes, rural electrification, agriculture, health and social welfare, adding that the UPA government had already initiated various schemes to these ends.

UNI XC-SG KK KLC1528