Ulfa agrees to give up sovereignty call
In a significant development, the pro-talk faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) has agreed to give up the demand of sovereignty besides indicating to fight for greater autonomy of the state.
In what came to light on Sunday, the civil society group, Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan, facilitating peace talks between the Ulfa and New Delhi handed over a charter of demands to the Ulfa leadership which proposes certain amendments in the Indian constitution granting more autonomy to the state.
The Ulfa leadership will accept the charter of demands, which will be the basis of the peace talks between the Centre and the outfit, after discussing it on their forum.
The 37-page charter of demands, besides featuring the demand for certain constitutional amendments, have incorporated issues like border row, timely and adequate distribution of funds, economic incentives, right over land and natural resources, right over petroleum resources, illegal infiltration and ethnic division.
While handing over the charter of demands to Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, Dr Hiren Gohain, chief spokesperson of the SJA steering committee said, “Though the word ‘full autonomy’ has not been used to avoid any misinterpretation, the demands would certainly revolve around addressing issues as it would have been in the case of granting full autonomy.” The SJA handed over a report to the Ulfa leadership. Mr Gohain said that the charter demands constitutional amendments to give the state greater control over its own future through strengthening its power to control the revenues generated here, the natural resources, the planning process, and ensure a secure demographic situation as well as accelerated balanced development.
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