PC doubts ULFA’s interest in talks Spl Correspondent NEW DELHI, Nov 24 – Notwithstanding pleas by the combined Opposition to start dialogue with insurgent outfits including the outlawed ULFA, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday expressed his skepticism over the possibility of top ULFA leaders coming for negotiations. Making an elaborate statement in the Rajya Sabha in reply to a volley of questions by the Opposition BJP, AGP and the CPI-M, Chidambaram touched on the whole gamut of issues concerning the insurgent outfit, besides clarifying the Centre’s position vis-à-vis opening dialogue and tackling insurgency.
The Government’s position is clear, give up violence, give up arms and give up the demand for sovereignty. “We are willing to look into the demands if they give up these things. But we will not repeat the mistake of the past.
“We will not ease pressure. We will continue to maintain sustained pressure to ensure that they give up violence,” he said.
In what began with the laying of a statement by the Home Minister was soon converted into a full fledged discussion after the Opposition fired several questions at the Home Minister, seeking clarifications on a number of issues including the sensitive issue of involvement of government officials and ministers with militants and clandestine support extended by some political parties to the ultras.
Revealing for the first time, the inputs available with the Centre following arrest of two top leaders Sasha Choudhury and Chitraban Hazarika, the Union Home Minister said that serious differences prevail within the organisation. “Two senior leaders surrendered to us and there appears to be complete demoralization among the ULFA cadres.”
“We gather that ULFA is not interested in talks. This is based on Intelligence inputs and the recent statements made by the top leaders and the incidents of violence indulged in by the outfits,” he opined.
“Talks with ULFA will get nowhere because Paresh Baruah, Arabinda Rajkhowa and Raju Barua are all outside the country though they have serious differences,” he commented.
However, he added that it was a matter of time before the dissent within the outfit further intensifies.
Describing ULFA as a very violent organisation, he confirmed that the Nalbari blast was the handiwork of ULFA as the footprints indicated its involvement.
The Union Home Minister significantly talked about engaging the pro-talk faction of ULFA – the A and C companies of the 28th battalion. Some companies of ULFA declared a unilateral ceasefire and have since submitted their charter of demands,” he said.
“We are working with the Government of Assam to see if they can be brought to negotiation,” he said.
The stand is markedly different from his earlier statement when he had insisted that the Government of India was not interested in talking with separate factions of the same outfit.
Stating that the Government of India was currently engaged in talks with the pro-talk faction of the NDFB, he said the Centre was also willing to look into the demands of the anti-talk faction if they give up violence and arms.
In the face of severe criticism of the Assam Government, Chidambaram came to the defence of Assam Police, stating that it was because of its intense pressure that one faction of ULFA and NDFB came for talks.
“We are hopeful that some day peace will return to Assam and the people of the State will live without fear,’ he said.
Earlier in his suo moto statement, he said that in the past few weeks, the Home Ministry had received intelligence reports about the plans of ULFA to engineer bomb blasts in Nalbari and Kamrup districts. These reports were promptly shared with the Government of Assam and the State Police. The State Government had also issued alerts. While strict vigilance was maintained in the two districts and elsewhere, unfortunately, the incident in Nalbari could not be averted. Search operations are continuing in Nalbari and the neighbouring districts.
The Operational Group of Unified Headquarters met on November 23 and took stock of the situation.
