The department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee observed lack of seriousness on the part of the government to put forward the talks with two factions of the NDFB. The Committee is apprehensive that a ‘lack of seriousness by the government in holding the dialogue with the insurgent groups may result in violation of Suspension of Operation agreements by them’.
The Committee strongly recommended the government to urgently appoint a separate interlocutor for talks with the Assam-based insurgent groups, particularly NDFB (RD) and NDFB (P).
The Committee cautions the government that if suspension of talks due to the absence of interlocutor is allowed to become prolonged, the insurgent groups may become further restive and indulge in illegal activities.
It observes that there is a lack of seriousness of purpose shown by the government on this issue, by first shifting the interlocutor to J&K and then not appointing another one immediately.
The Committee also recommended that government must ensure that the talks are held on a continuous basis with utmost sincerity to keep the insurgent groups at the negotiation table and maintain the security scenario in northeastern region that has been achieved with ‘painstaking efforts and numerous sacrifices’.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee observed that the government interlocutor, who was appointed for holding talks with the Assam-based insurgent groups, was recently assigned the responsibility to initiate dialogue with various stakeholders in Kashmir due to which the talks with the two factions of the NDFB have been stalled.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee also observed that due to the stalled talks, the insurgent groups have become restive and have even resorted to hunger strike.
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