GUWAHATI, Feb 25 � The Government of India has closed its doors for talks with any more militant outfits and the ongoing process of talks with the ultra groups, which have already signed cease-fire pacts to solve their problems through discussions, will be expedited so that those are taken to a logical conclusion as soon as possible.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made it clear that the Government is not keen on starting talks with any more militant outfit as enough opportunity was given to the ultra groups to shun violence and solve their problems through discussions. Sources asserted that no more effort would be made to bring the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), Paresh Baruah to the negotiation table. �Over the years, the Government of India made a series of efforts to bring Paresh Baruah to the negotiation table to solve the problems through talks. But every time he refused to positively react to the Government�s efforts. That is why the Government has decided not to make any fresh effort to bring the ULFA leader to the negotiation table,� sources added.
It may be mentioned here that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had already clarified following the dastardly killing of more than 70 persons on December 23 last that there would be no talk with the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
On the process of talks with the militant groups, MHA sources said that the Government is not keen on dragging its feet on the process of talks and deadlines have been set for completing the process of talks. Sources revealed that the talks are progressing satisfactorily and final agreements with the outfits are likely to be signed shortly. However, sources refused to announce the deadlines set by the Government to complete talks with different militant outfits. A number of militant outfits of the State, including two factions of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), pro talk faction of the ULFA, KLNLF etc are talking with the State and Central Governments for political solution of their problems.
Sources admitted that there was a time when the lower level cadres of the militant groups under cease-fire agreement did not get their monthly stipend of Rs 3,000 regularly. Earlier, the money was paid to the leaders of the outfits and they were given the responsibility of distributing the money to the cadres. But a number of cadres of the militant groups complained that they did not get the stipend regularly. After receiving such complains, the Government decided to pay the money through bank accounts. All the cadres of the ultra groups under cease-fire agreement have been asked to open accounts. After this step, the process of payment of stipend to the members of the militant groups under cease-fire agreement has been streamlined.
