Government will not wait “indefinitely” for elusive ULFA military chief Paresh Baruah to come for talks but expects “some good news” in the next few days, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Tuesday.
“We will not wait indefinitely for Paresh Baruah to come.
We are ready to initiate dialogue with other leaders on all issues, except sovereignty,” he told reporters when asked whether any move has been taken to hold talks with the group.
Mr. Gogoi said he was expecting “some good news” soon in holding dialogue with the ULFA but refused to elaborate what it could be.
“We are trying our best. Let’s hope for the good,” he said.
Mr. Gogoi said government wanted to involve all leaders of ULFA in the negotiations but everything will depend on the willingness and sincerity of the rebel leaders.
Most of the ULFA top leaders, including chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, are currently in jails in Assam. However, Baruah, who is believed to be hiding in Kachin area of Myanmar, is against any dialogue with the government without the issue of “sovereignty” in the table.
Asked whether the banned insurgent group in Assam has any links with Naxals, the Chief Minister said all extremists groups like Maoists and ULFA are “in the same boat” as all of them believe in armed struggle, which is not acceptable for a democratic country like India.
“Naxals, ULFA are in the same boat. Their objective is to achieve their goals through armed revolution. They just want to create problem for the country,” he said.
The Chief Minister advised the Maoists to follow the footsteps of erstwhile Bodo Liberation Front —— a militant group which after surrendering arms joined the democratic process and is now in power of Bodoland Autonomous Council —— if they really care about the development of poor people.
