GUWAHATI, Dec 17 � The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is not satisfied with the progress of talks with militant outfit Dima Halam Daogah (Dilip Nunisa faction) and the Government may go ahead with signing of an agreement with the Jewel Garlosa faction of the DHD without waiting for the Nunisa faction.
Talking to The Assam Tribune after another round of talks with the DHD(N) this evening, the Joint Secretary (North East) of the MHA, Sambhu Singh admitted that the talks with the militant outfit have not been progressing satisfactorily.
Singh said that today's meeting decided to extend the period of the cease-fire agreement by another six months, but the Government would think twice before extending the cease-fire term any more. He pointed out that talks with the DHD(N) have been going on for eight years and "talks cannot be a never � ending process. The Government will have to think twice before extending the cease-fire agreement any further and we have already informed the leaders of the outfit about the Government's displeasure about the progress of talks."
The MHA official revealed that the DHD(N) has been claiming villages outside of Dima Hasao district , which is not acceptable to the Government. He also said that the leaders of the militant outfit have been maintaining "double standards". When they take part in the tripartite meetings, they agree to give up the demand for creation of a separate state, but when they talk outside, they raise the demand for creation of a separate state of Dimaraji. Such acts on the part of the leaders of the outfit are not conducive for building up confidence for healthy talks, Singh added.
Singh said that on the other hand, talks with the DHD(J) are progressing well and the leaders of the outfit are showing a positive attitude. He said that the Government of India has almost finalised an agreement with the DHD(J) and a formal agreement is likely to be signed after the same is approved by the State Cabinet.
The Joint Secretary (MHA) said that the Government wanted to sign the same agreement with United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and KLNLF together but it signed an agreement with the UPDS after the KLNLF refused to give up the demand for a separate state. Similarly, the Government would be forced to sign an agreement with the DHD(J) without waiting for DHD(N), Singh added.
