Peace initiative with ULFA in ‘right direction’: Govt

“It (the peace initiative) has started in the right direction. We are hopeful of a positive outcome,” Handique said adding that he has also discussed the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Reviving the peace initiative,the Government last week had appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief P C Haldar to act as interlocutor for the negotiations.

Asked whether talks will be fruitful without the group’s ‘military chief’ Paresh Barua,Handique said Barua has not yet indicated his willingness for the peace initiative.

“Some very important leaders (of ULFA) have surrendered in the last one year. They want the peace initiative to move forward,” the Union Minister said.

On whether Centre will consider giving amnesty to top ULFA leaders currently lodged in various jails in Assam,he said the issue may be considered during talks.

A delegation of prominent academicians,writers,retired police and army officers,rights leaders and intellectuals from Assam had earlier this week met the Prime and requested him to move forward on the peace talks with ULFA.

Noting that Centre is committed to improving the road network in Northeast,he said DONER Ministry has finalised a road project at an estimated cost of Rs 1,500 crore to build 522 kms of roads in the region.

“The proposal will be presented to the Cabinet soon,” he said adding the Asian Development Bank would provide 70 per cent of the money as loan for the project.

Willing to hold peace talks with any ULFA leader: Gogoi The peace talks with ULFA will take place with any leader coming forward from the insurgent outfit even if its ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua stayed away,Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.

“We will try to bring Paresh Barua for the talks,but will have talks with whichever ULFA leader comes forward,” Gogoi told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting here.

“Paresh Barua has so far not expressed his willingness for participating in the talks. We want him otherwise the talks will remain incomplete. We want to solve the problem 100 per cent. We can wait a while for Paresh Barua,but not indefinitely,” he said.

The modalities of the talks would have to be worked out first and then decide who would participate,he said.

He also said it remained to be seen which ULFA leaders could be brought for the talks by the intellectuals of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan.

The intellectuals have held meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in the last three days in Delhi to solve the vexed 30-year-old ULFA problem in Assam.