The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)바카라s elusive commander, Paresh Barua, is likely to 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 confirmed to the Outlook.
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 of Assam, we have no hesitation to sit for talks. We will send a delegation,바카라 Baruah said in the phone-in interview.
Sources said that the Narendra Modi-led 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 for over a month against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Assam's 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. Phukan was earlier a member of the now-disbanded People바카라s Consultative Group, a citizens바카라 initiative to bring Barua to the negotiating table. The PCG was led by Gnanpith winner Assamese writer late Mamoni Raisom Goswami.
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 state's indigenous people. This was one of the main clauses of the Assam Accord,바카라 a source in the Home Ministry said. Successive governments at the Centre have maintained the same line for talks with militant outfits: unconditional and within the ambit of the Indian Constitution, which rules out secession.
Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also dropped broad hints about the Centre바카라s keenness to engage with Barua. 바카라The Central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has resolved the demands of the Bodos through the Bodo Peace Accord on Monday. 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 described the incidents as 바카라minor irritants바카라 to the peace process.
The Bodoland accord, signed on January 27 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 to the Centre by mid-February.
A Guwahati-based source with close links to the BJP said 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. Rajkhowa was arrested in Bangladesh and sent to India in 2009.
Anup Chetia, another leader of the pro-talks faction said that an 바카라agreement with the Government of India is in the final stages바카라. We appeal to the Government of India to sign the agreement soon. It depends on Paresh Barua if he wants to come. We have no knowledge of the talks and no comments to make. If he comes then our power will be strengthened,바카라 Chetia added.
An accord with the recalcitrant Barua바카라who had turned down several peace overtures from the government earlier바카라will give the BJP bragging rights and even help the party regain popular support ahead of next year바카라s assembly polls. The ruling BJP has faced massive public anger in Assam바카라as in other parts of the country바카라over CAA, which many fear will hasten demographic changes in the state. Amid the statewide protests, there are also speculations of a political alternative to the BJP and Congress to protect the state바카라s interests.
Home ministry sources added that a peace accord with Karbi militant groups was also likely around the same time.
(With inputs from Sadiq Naqvi in Guwahati)
