Union home minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday indicated that the peace talk with the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) initiated before the Assembly elections will continue even if the faction led by Paresh Baruah, the commander-in-chief of the outfit, refuses to participate.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr Chidambaram said the Ulfa leaders met the Prime Minister and Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi before the elections and expressed willingness to resume peace talks and they have been advised to prepare a document based on which the dialogue with the government would take place.
In a reply to a specific question on Baruah, the minister said, “The talk is not possible with him... he is not in the country”. However, the minister said that Baruah will be welcomed if he returns and agrees to participate in the discussion within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
Mr Chidambaram expressed special gratitude to the Bangladesh government, led by Sheikh Hasina, for extending the “splendid” cooperation in restoration of peace in the region. While asked about the possibility of Tripura’s insurgent leaders, camping in Bangladesh, Mr Chidambaram said that he can’t discuss this thing in details at a press conference, but efforts are going on.
Commenting on post-poll violence in West Bengal, he said it is unfortunate that these incidents have taken place. He added that the accused has not been identified yet However, the Union minister had a point of appreciation for Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for taking a restrained attitude who even deferred the victory rally to July.
Mr Chidambaram laid the foundation stone of an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Agartala at Akhaura border with Bangladesh at the cost of `73.5 crores, The ICP will facilitate trade between the two countries. The government of India in the 11th Five Year Plan has decided to set up 13 such ICP at the cost of `635 crores along the borders with the neighboring countries — seven will be with Bangladesh, four with Nepal and one each with Pakistan and Burma.
Mr Chidambaram said it is a major initiative to give an impetus to the regional trade and at the same time improve the bilateral relations with the neighbouring countries. He assured that the trade between the two countries through the Agartala-Akhaura border will increase many fold after the infrastructure is prepared.