Gogoi offers safe passage to Ulfa during Bihu
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday ruled out general amnesty for members of outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) but offered safe passage to the elusive Ulfa rebels who desires to come home during Bihu festival.
Making it very clear that question of granting general amnesty does not arise Mr Gogoi told reporters, that Ulfa rebels will have to go through the legal process for their act o violence. Obviously under the pressure over the charges of BJP national executive of using Ulfa during the elections, Mr Gogoi defended his peace-initiative claiming that it started in 2009 itself. He reiterated that peace-talk with Ulfa was not aimed at forthcoming Assembly elections in the state. “The stand of the opposition including BJP has vindicated my charges that they are not happy with the peace-talks,” he added.
The chief minister, back from New Delhi after discussing the pros and cons of a unilateral ceasefire plea from the National Democratic Front of Bodoland with the MHA, insisted peace talks with Ulfa would start soon.
Mr Gogoi also clarified, “If elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah comes for peace talks, door is open but the process won’t stop because of his absence.”
Mr Gogoi also termed the Ulfa’s appeal to Paresh Barua to remain elusive and keep the option of returning to guerrilla warfare open, as “its own problem”.
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