Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has authorised him to hold preliminary talks with the militant outfit ULFA(I).
After meeting Union Home Minister Shah in New Delhi on Monday night, chief minister Sarma said: “I have discussed with the Home Minister regarding the issue of holding peace talks with the ULFA(I). He has authorised me to hold preliminary talks with the ULFA(I).”
Chief minister Sarma said if everything goes in a proper direction, the Centre may get involved in the peace process with the ULFA later.
Regarding the ongoing peace process with the NSCN-IM, the Assam chief minister and convenor of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) said he is partly involved in the peace talks with the NSCN-IM but is not officially holding any negotiation with the outfit.
Regarding the matter of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Sarma said both the Centre and the state government are seeking a review of the NRC in Assam.
However, a decision in this regard will be taken only by the Supreme Court as the NRC was prepared under the direct supervision of the apex court.
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Chief minister Sarma also said he updated Home Minister Shah on the progress in the implementation of various central schemes; and the efforts of the Assam government against drugs.
“Today I called on Adarniya Union HM Sri@AmitShah. I apprised him on how Assam has pursued vision of Adarniya PM Sri@narendramodi in our developmental journey & efforts to scale it up. Updated him on progress in implementation of various central schemes; & our war against drugs,” Sarma tweeted on Monday night.