Gogoi: Ulfa ready to hold talks with govt
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Sunday said that the pro-talks faction of Ulfa leaders, including its chairman Arbinda Rajkhowa, are prepared for starting the peace talks with the government.
Refusing to divulge the details of messages received from jailed Ulfa leaders, Mr Gogoi told reporters, “I have received encouraging response from Ulfa leaders to go ahead with peace talks. They have informed me that they are prepared for the peace talks. We are now going to discuss it with home ministry soon.”
Clarifying that talks will be held within the purview of the Indian Constitution, he said that modalities for starting the peace process would be decided only after the approval of New Delhi.
He, however, said that there are a number of Ulfa commanders who are also sending messages to join the peace process. “We want them to include. Even doors for elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah will remain open,” he said, indicating that jailed Ulfa leaders want to include all the senior Ulfa leaders holed up in Bangladesh and Burma.
Without referring any name, chief minister also indicated that there is possibility of senior Ulfa leader and general secretary of the outfit Anup Chetia joining the peace process. Ulfa general secretary Anup Chetia is in protective custody in Bangladesh since his arrest in 1997 in that country. His jail term was over, but continues to remain in Bangladesh as he had moved a writ petition seeking political asylum there.
“There are legal problems in extraditing Anup Chetia but I am sure New Delhi was looking into the matter pro-actively,” said Mr Gogoi indicating that jailed Ulfa leaders would like to motivate some more Ulfa leaders to join the process.
Chief minister was also candid in his admission that Ulfa and NDFB rebels are carrying out extortion but amount of money being paid to insurgent groups are very small. “Now people have also become intelligent and they are not paying mush less than the amount published on demand notes,” said Mr Gogoi, who on Sunday left for Patna to attend a meeting of finance ministers of eastern India.
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Assam CM pulls up AGP, BJP
Age Correspondent
Guwahati
June 13: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday pulled up his political opponents AGP and BJP for criticising his government despite their defeat in elections after elections. “The main Opposition parties AGP and BJP have now lost support of the tribal people of the state also,” said chief minister Tarun Gogoi.
Addressing press conference he told reporters that his government has decided to publish a white paper and place it for debate in the Assam Assembly on economic growth of the state during his tenure which is better than AGP term.
Quoting data on economic growth of the state, Mr Gogoi claimed that state was growing at the rate of 6.37 per cent. “I am not bothered about what AGP and BJP leaders say, people of the state have reaffirmed their faith on us by voting for the Congress party in the local body elections for tribal councils,” said Mr Gogoi. Referring the performance of AGP and BJP he said, “Tribal people have also rejected them.”
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