New Delhi:
The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) will finally begin talks with the Centre at New Delhi today in a bid to usher in peace in the insurgency-hit Assam. The talks, the third such engagement between the banned insurgent group and the Centre in nearly two decades, will be held minus any conditions.
An eight-member ULFA delegation led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, will sit for negotiations with Union Home Secretary G K Pillai.
Before meeting Pillai, the ULFA leaders will also have an introductory meeting with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.
Interestingly, Rajkhowa is the same man who, in 1992, had duped New Delhi and fled to Bangladesh.
It's a reflection of how the situation of ULFA has changed drastically over the years.
The ULFA leadership has already admitted that continuing an armed struggle could prove suicidal for them. On February 5, the outfit announced that it will sit for unconditional talks with the Centre "respecting the wishes of the people of Assam". It also apologised for the violent acts it committed.
ULFA's offer for talks stems from the fact that the outfit is finding it increasingly difficult to sustain itself.
For starters, Bangladesh, which had so far provided a safe haven for the ULFA leaders, cannot be used as a base anymore.
Their problems have been compounded after Bangladesh helped India nab several ULFA cadres recently.
Furthermore, the group has been weakened with most of the cadre having surrendered in recent days.
Most importantly, ULFA's policy of armed struggle and violence is no longer acceptable in Assam.
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 talks are not expected to see a major breakthrough but will serve as an ice-breaker between the two parties.
The ULFA delegation will be taken around Delhi and Agra over the next few days to give them a feel of the country.