The ULFA바카라s elusive commander, Paresh Barua, could come overground and sign a peace accord with the Centre as early as April to potentially end a decades-old insurgency in the northeastern state, multiple sources have confirmed.
Barua told a Guwahati-based news channel on Tuesday that he will 바카라have no hesitation바카라 for talks if the 바카라core issue of sovereignty바카라 is on the agenda. Barua, who leads the ULFA바카라s Independent faction, has been waging an armed rebellion for a 바카라sovereign Axom바카라 since 1979. 바카라If the Indian government conveys even in a one-line communication that they are ready for talks on all issues, including the core issue of sovereignty to Assam, we have no hesitation to sit for talks. We will send a delegation,바카라 Barua said in the phone-in interview.
Sources say the Modi government is trying to expedite the talks and offer the accord as a 바카라Bihu gift바카라 to Assam, especially to pacify large sections of people who are protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Assam바카라s biggest festival, Rongali Bihu, is celebrated in mid-April.
One of Barua바카라s childhood friends, Rebati Phukan바카라who 바카라disappeared바카라 in April 2018바카라is said to be acting as the intermediary between the banned outfit and the Centre. He was apparently drafted by Indian intelligence agencies to break the ice with Barua.
바카라Talks with ULFA are in final stages and an agreement is likely to be signed soon. Most issues have been resolved with ULFA, including granting constitutional safeguard to the state바카라s indigenous people, one of the main clauses of the Assam Accord,바카라 a home ministry source says.
Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also dropped broad hints about the Centre바카라s keenness to engage with Barua. 바카라The Central government...has resolved the demands of the Bodos through the Bodo Peace Accord. And I have been told that if the ULFA faction shows interest in peace talks, it would be reciprocated by the Centre,바카라 he told newsmen in Guwahati on Tuesday.
The ULFA has owned up four explosions in different places of Assam on Republic Day. The home ministry sources describes the incidents as 바카라minor irritants바카라 to the peace process.
The Bodoland accord, signed between the Centre, Assam government and Bodo outfits, is likely to provide the template for the ULFA peace treaty.
Before the accord is signed, the Centre is also likely to finalise the definition of 바카라Assamese바카라, people who can be considered eligible for constitutional safeguards under the 1985 Assam Accord. A panel looking into the issue is expected to submit its report by mid-February.
A Guwahati-based source with close links to the BJP says Barua needs an 바카라honourable exit바카라 after chasing the dream of an independent Assam for 41 years. Another ULFA faction led by the outfit바카라s former chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, has been negotiating for several years now. Anup Chetia, another leader of the pro-talks faction, says that an 바카라agreement with the Centre is in the final stages. We appeal to the government to sign the agreement soon. It depends on Paresh Barua if he wants to come바카라바카라
An accord with Barua바카라who had turned down several peace overtures from the government바카라will give the BJP bragging rights and even help the party regain popular support ahead of next year바카라s assembly polls. Amid the statewide anti-CAA protests, there are also speculation of a political alternative to protect the state바카라s interests.
By Anupam Bordoloi and Bhavna Vij-Aurora with inputs from Sadiq Naqvi in Guwahati
