Riding on the success of Bodo Accord 2020, Assam Government on Tuesday offered the olive branch to the anti-talk faction of ULFA.
Assam Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday appealed to the anti-talk faction of ULFA, led by Paresh Baruah to come to the negotiating table and resolve the demands politically.
Sarma said the Centre would reciprocate with equal gesture if the ULFA faction shows interest in resolving their grievances through talks.
“The Central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has resolved the demands of the Bodos through the Bodo Peace Accord on Monday. And I have been told that if the ULFA faction shows interest in peace talks, it would be reciprocated by the Centre,” he said.
On behalf of the Assam government, Sarma appealed to Paresh Baruch to consider coming forward for talks.
Sarma claimed it was for the first time that the Central government has been able to bring together all the stakeholders of Bodo society, including the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), four factions of NDFB and the BTC.
“The demand for separate state for the Bodos officially ended on Monday,” Sarma said.
The minister also appealed to the militant outfits in Manipur to come forward for talks.
“The other states of the northeast India like Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have become peaceful. If the militant outfits in Manipur and Assam come forward for talks, it will help establishing lasting peace in the region,” he said.
The Minister also said that the Assam government has invited the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to visit Kokrajhar on February 7 to celebrate the signing of historic Bodo Accord 2020.
Sarma also informed that the Central government has been pursuing the Clause 6 committee and are exploring possibilities regarding constitutional safeguard to the indigenous people of Assam.
He said announcements on constitutional safeguard of indigenous people of Assam will be during the forthcoming Rongali Bihu celebrations.
