GUWAHATI, May 26 � The State Cabinet today decided to start the process of talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) without Paresh Baruah, the commander-in-chief of the outfit, who is still maintaining a rigid stand on the issue of talks. However, the Government also made it clear that the anti-insurgency operations against those who try to indulge in violence would continue.
Addressing a press conference immediately after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Government waited for Paresh Baruah for a long time and there is no reason to wait for him for an indefinite period. He said that the Government received indication that majority of the leaders of the ULFA are in favour of talks and the Government has decided to go ahead and start the process without waiting for Paresh Baruah. �If Paresh Baruah wants to come for talks, he is most welcome, but if me keeps maintaining a rigid stand, we will have to start without him.� However, at the same time, he said that the State Government would intimate the Centre about the Cabinet decision and wait for the response from the ULFA before taking the next step.
Gogoi pointed out that the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who reviewed the security scenario in the State in a meeting with the Unified Command yesterday, asked the State Government to take the initiative for political dialogues. He said that there is no question of discussing sovereignty and the militants would have to abjure violence to come for talks. The same formula would apply for the anti-talk faction of the NDFB also, he said.
The Chief Minister said that among the central committee leaders of the ULFA, six are in judicial custody, one is dead, two are out on bail and three are missing since the operations in Bhutan in 2003 leaving only Paresh Baruah and Jiban Moran outside. �We have indications that most of the leaders are in favour of talks and decided to take the risk of going ahead with the process of talks without Paresh Baruah,� he added. He pointed out that cross sections of people of Assam wanted peaceful solution of the problems and the state level convention held recently also advocated the need for talks. He thanked all those who are playing their part to start the process of talks including Dr Hiren Gohain and Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami.
Replying to a question on whether the jailed leaders of the ULFA would be released to facilitate talks, he said, �let us go step by step. We will wait for the response from the ULFA before taking any such decision.�
Commenting on the law and order scene, Gogoi said that the Union Home Minister himself admitted that the situation has improved dramatically. He said that so far this year, only 20 civilians were killed in insurgency related violence compared to 232 during the same period last year and 261 in 2008. He said that so far this year, 65 militants were killed by police and security forces, while, 66 were killed last year. He informed the media that because of the improvement of the situation, the Government of India has already withdrawn some forces and State now has only 94 companies of central forces engaged in the operations.
Gogoi admitted that kidnappings and extortions in some parts of the State is a matter of concern and steps are being taken to deal with those involved in such acts.
The Chief Minister said that the Maoist groups are trying to establish bases in the State, but they have not yet been able to make inroads and the police and security forces have been directed to maintain strict vigil on the situation.
Reacting to the criticism against him by the AASU, Gogoi reiterated his allegation that the Assam agitation was influenced by the RSS and the BJP. But at the same time, he clarified that he had never said AASU was formed by the RSS.
On the situation in Lampi, he asserted that the area belongs to Assam.
When asked whether he would make the list of properties of the ministers public, Gogoi said that no law allowed him to do so.
