New Delhi:
Leaders of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) met Home Minister P Chidambaram as they began face-to-face unconditional talks with the Centre in an attempt to usher in peace in insurgency-hit Assam. The meet assumes significance as it took place for the first time in ULFA's 31-year-old history.
An eight-member ULFA delegation led by its 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa met the Home Minister at his North Block office in New Delhi as a part of an introductory meeting. The meeting was followed by a full session with senior Home Ministry officials led by Home Secretary G K Pillai.
The meeting was also attended by Assam Home Secretary N K Das, Additional Director General Police (Assam) Khagen Sharma, Assam Home Commissioner Jishnu Barua, Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar, Secretary (Internal Security) U K Bansal and Intelligence Bureau chief N Sandhu.
After meeting Chidambaram, Shashadhar Choudhary, Foreign Secretary, ULFA addressed the media and said," We have come after a long time in search of a solution. The Home Minister assured us that he will do everything for an honourable and just settlement."
He added," We haven't placed any demands yet and there have been no talks yet on ceasefire."
The delegation will meet the Prime Minister on Monday.
ULFA's absconding Commander-in-Chief and lone ranger Paresh Barauh, though, still remains a cause for concern. Although isolated, the hardliner leader still retains the capability to spring a surprise.
The ULFA delegation will be taken around Delhi and Agra over the next few days to give them a feel of the country.
An eight-member ULFA delegation led by its 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa met the Home Minister at his North Block office in New Delhi as a part of an introductory meeting. The meeting was followed by a full session with senior Home Ministry officials led by Home Secretary G K Pillai.
The meeting was also attended by Assam Home Secretary N K Das, Additional Director General Police (Assam) Khagen Sharma, Assam Home Commissioner Jishnu Barua, Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar, Secretary (Internal Security) U K Bansal and Intelligence Bureau chief N Sandhu.
After meeting Chidambaram, Shashadhar Choudhary, Foreign Secretary, ULFA addressed the media and said," We have come after a long time in search of a solution. The Home Minister assured us that he will do everything for an honourable and just settlement."
He added," We haven't placed any demands yet and there have been no talks yet on ceasefire."
The delegation will meet the Prime Minister on Monday.
ULFA's absconding Commander-in-Chief and lone ranger Paresh Barauh, though, still remains a cause for concern. Although isolated, the hardliner leader still retains the capability to spring a surprise.
The ULFA delegation will be taken around Delhi and Agra over the next few days to give them a feel of the country.
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