NEW DELHI, June 16 � The stage is set for appointment of former Director of Intelligence Bureau PC Haldar as the interlocutor for the ULFA peace process, with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi formally suggesting his name to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram here today.
After calling on the Prime Minister on Tuesday, the Chief Minister today briefed Chidambaram on the ULFA peace process being initiated by the State Government.
The Union Home Minister has given the �go ahead� and assured of all possible assistance to the State Government to start the peace process, said Gogoi emerging from his meeting with Chidambaram at his North Block Office. �He has given us the go ahead,� he said.
Gogoi said, he has suggested Haldar�s name, as he is already involved in the peace process with other militant outfits like DHD(J), UPDS and NDFB among others.
Considered an old hand on North-east, Haldar�s appointment as the interlocutor for ULFA peace process remains a formality, with both the State Government and the Centre on the same page.
Gogoi�s meeting with Chidambaram is significant because the crucial role likely to be played by the Home Ministry in the peace process. However, he did not discuss the upcoming visit of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA). Yesterday, he had raised it in his meeting with the Prime Minister, who has agreed to meet them.
Replying to questions, Gogoi reiterate that the State Government wished to go step by step. He said, modalities have to be worked out in consultation with the ULFA leaders ahead of the dialogue.
Confirming that he has received positive signals, Gogoi, however, declined to divulge in what form the State Government has received the proposal for talks.
The State Cabinet has discussed the issue and decided to go ahead with the negotiations with ULFA, he said.
Majority of ULFA men, who are in Assam are willing to come forward to join the peace process, he said. The idea is to involve everybody, who is willing to talk. If they want to talk, the State Government is willing, Gogoi added.
Describing the developments as positive, the Chief Minister said things are moving in the right direction. The Chief Minister, however, declined to give a definite time frame for the formal dialogue to start, reiterating that the modalities for the talks have to be worked out first.
Meanwhile, when asked about the ongoing CBI raids on those suspected to be involved in the multi-crore rupee scam in NC Hills, the Chief Minister declined to say much. He said he has seen media reports. �The CBI is probing the matter and they are doing their job. In any case they don�t report to me,� he remarked.
