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Resolve demands of NE ultras within statute ambit

By Kalyan Barooah

NEW DELHI, May 13 - With dialogues with NSCN(I-M) and the ULFA pro-talk faction in advance stages, the Centre has been asked to resolve their demands within the framework of the Constitution.

In its report, a Parliamentary Panel while noting that the Government proposes to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to deal with separatists of the north-eastern region, suggested that the Government should start dialogue with these groups and address their grievances sympathetically within the framework of the Constitution of India with an aim to bring them into the mainstream. The strategy should include this aspect also.

The NDA Government seems to have endorsed the strategy adopted by the previous UPA Government, as far as tackling the militancy is concerned, so much so that it has clarified that it is willing to talk to any group that abjures violence.

A multi-pronged strategy to deal with insurgent and militant activities in the North East has been adopted. Priority includes a willingness to talk to groups, provided they abjure violence, seek resolution of their demands within the framework of the Indian Constitution and come into the mainstream of national life, the Ministry of Home Affairs conveyed to the Department Related Standing Committee attached to its Ministry.

The Union Government is also supplementing the efforts of the State governments through various measures, such as deployment of Central security forces to assist the State authorities in counterinsurgency operations and providing security to vulnerable institutions and installations based on threat assessment, the report said.

Law and order in the north-eastern India has been improving substantially in terms of reduction in violent incidents and lower civilian casualties. In Assam, the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreements signed with National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Progressive) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Ranjan Daimary) have been extended for a further period of six months up to June 30, the panel reported to the committee.

Besides, the SoO agreement signed between Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) and Government of Assam since 2010 has also been extended up to June 30.

A total of 25 underground outfits of Manipur are presently under Suspension of Operation with the Government. Talks with these outfits are continuing and SoO agreements signed with these groups have been further extended for a period of one year, up to June 8 and July 21, respectively.

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