Talks with ULFA

Headlines Vol. 1 Issue No. 11

May 7 - 21, 2002

Talks with ULFA
CM welcomes Hazarika’s offer to mediate
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 9 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today welcomed the desire expressed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi chairman Dr Bhupen Hazarika to mediate between the government and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Addressing a press conference here today, the Chief Minister said the journalist Kanaksen Deka has also expressed his desire to mediate with the ULFA. “A person who enjoys the confidence of the militants must come forward to establish the links between the government and the ULFA to start the process of negotiation and the State government is ready to provide all assistance to anyone who comes forward to mediate with the militants,” he added.

Gogoi said that despite the ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa’s recent statement questioning the sincerity of the government on the issue of talks, efforts would be on by the State government to bring the militants to the negotiation table for amicable solution of the problem. Replying to a question on the pre-conditions put forward by the ULFA for talks, he said that the issue has to be decided by the Central government and ‘we want that talks should be held by using the same formula as was used to hold talks with the NSCN (I-M).’ However, he refused to elaborate on the state government stand on the pre-conditions put forward by the ULFA for talks. Gogoi said that security measures have been stepped up for the ensuing visit of the Congress president Sonia Gandhi to the city on April 12 and 13. He said that 14 chief ministers of the Congress ruled states would also attend the meeting to be held in the city. He revealed that the performance of the Congress-ruled states in the country would be reviewed in the meeting.

Replying to a question on the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Gogoi said the BTC would be formed under the provisions of the amended sixth schedule with constitutional safeguards to the non-Bodos. He said that efforts are on to remove the difference between the Bodos and non-Bodos in this regard. However, he admitted that the boundary of the proposed BTC is yet to be finalised. “The Government is of the view that the boundary of the Bodoland Autonomous Council finalised in 1999 should remain as the boundary of the BTC but the Bodo leaders want inclusion of more areas,” he added. Gogoi also demanded the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his failure to maintain law and order situation in the State.

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