Peace talks between the Centre, Assam Government and the ULFA pro-talk faction to be held at New Delhi after Independence Day, said ULFA’s leader Anup Chetia. “We hope to active at a solution with the Government of India before the (general) election…. It realises that if it signs the agreement with us(ULFA pro-talk faction) the Assam imbroglio will be solved,” he added. He also expressed hope that the talks to conclude before 2024.
The pro-talks ULFA faction had begun talks with the centre as long back as in 2011, but a final solution is yet awaited. There has been negligible progress since the present government came to power, alleges the faction, while the talks had reached the final stages during former premier Manmohan Singh’s term.
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Chetia, also a convenor of the North East Indigenous People’s Forum, was in Shillong for a programme connected to the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples' Forum at the North Eastern Hill University, when he told the reporters, that their discussions were decided to be held in the capital after Independence Day, with the representatives of the Government of India and Government of Assam.
When asked if the pro-talk faction will appeal to ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah to participate in the peace talk, Chetia answered, “We have contact with him … It depends on the Government of India - if it is interested to talk with him and group. But there is a lack of communication - the ULFA(I) demands are the same as before and the GOI cannot accept them.” It will good for Assam and its people if other groups come to the negotiating table, he added. Chetia also dispensed any rumours regarding Baruah’s location who is otherwise, popularly believed to be in Bangladesh, saying “ “He is somewhere, we don't know anything. But our discussions are on.”
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Assam’s CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had assured a safe passage to Baruah, inviting him to spend a week in the state to witness the development that has transpired since he left in the 1980s. Sarma also hopes for the ULFA(I) leader to accept his invitation to engage in the peace talk.
