[Assam] Talk with the ULFA for reaching solution meant to create a clone of AGP to rule?

[Bartta Bistar]

PM says contact made with ULFA but rejects talks on soveignty

 

http://www.ptinews.com/pti/ptisite.nsf/$All/39EDB380C7D838B165256F54004CAD50?OpenDocument

 

[Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said informal contacts have been established with ULFA for holding peace talks but virtually rejected the insurgents' outfit's demand for discussion on sovereignty of Assam.
"Some informal contacts have been established but nothing is quite clear now," he told reporters here prior to his departure for Delhi after his two-day visit to the state.

Singh made it clear that ULFA would be invited for talks only if it stopped violence. "If they shun violence, then I will invite them for talks but violence and talks cannot go on simultenuously," he said.

Asked about the issue of sovereignty of Assam as demanded by ULFA, the Prime Minister said "Assam is an integral part of the Indian union. I will make it clear that there should not be any doubt in the minds of the people in this regard." Singh said Jnanpith award winner and eminent Assamese litterateur Indira Goswami had talked to him in Delhi last week and "I have encouraged her to go ahead with her proposal of holding negotiations with ULFA for talks. But we will like to know who are the particular people prepared for talks." Regarding the proposed talks, he said "with our own people and our democratic set-up, there is every answer to the problem under our system and the obligations to look into all commitments." "If there are some disgruntled elements, we invite them for talks," he said.

To a question about the timeframe for possible peace talks, Singh said "we are not sitting idle. If any group is prepared for talks, we are ready." PTI ]

 

Singh rules out inclusion of �sovereignty� in talks 

 

http://www.northeasttribune.com/3574.htm

 

[In what might negate the possibility of proposed peace talks with the ULFA, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today ruled our inclusion of �sovereignty� in the talks.  

Addressing the media here today prior to his return to the Union capital, Dr Singh said, �our country is a democratic one and that the issue of sovereignty does not arise while initiating talks with any militant outfit.� 

He, however, appreciated the efforts of Dr Mamoni Raysom Goswami for bringing the banned outfit to negotiating table and said peace was the need of the hour for the region.

The statement assumed significance for the outlawed organization had been insisting on inclusion of �sovereignty� in the talks. Dr Goswam, while meeting the Prime Minister a few days back had made it clear that �sovereignty has to be the core issue of discussion in the proposed talks�. 

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister further said the Centre had taken up the issue of northeastern militants taking shelter in Myanmar and added that Myanmar government had assured of ensuring that the country would not be allowed for any kind of anti-Indian activities. 

Asked on the same problem with the Bangladesh, Dr Singh said talks were on with the concerned government so that the NE militants could be flushed out from the country.]

 

 

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