Assam CM opens up on possibility of peace with ULFA (I); here's what he said

NEW DELHI: Assam's newly-elected chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that the state government's search for a solution to bring the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) to the mainstream could take some time owing to the complex nature of the issue.

Sarma said that the government is unlikely to entertain the ULFA(I)'s demand for nationhood. "However, on the positive side, both Paresh Baruah and the government have said that they are both for peace. The people of Assam want lasting peace. Through the positive and negative, we have to find a solution. Efforts are on to find a road to the peace on many levels," he said.

Stating that the path towards peace could be a long drawn-out process, the CM stated that the ULFA peace process can only be accomplished with "small steps."

After getting elected CM, Sarma said that the state government is open to holding diplomatic talks with leaders of the banned militant outfit ULFA and urged commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah to abjure violence and come to the discussion table.

Sarma said that the lockdown restrictions in the state might be eased by June 7 owing to the decline in cases.

Sarma during a visit to New Delhi held discussions with PM Modi, Amit Shah, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, among others.

The CM also said that he will one day sit down with the pro-talks members of the ULFA (I) for talks. "But primarily, they will talk with the interlocutor for the peace talks," he said.

Since there has been a fall in cases and Guwahati recorded below 300 cases yesterday, we might ease some of the curbs although we had initially meant to keep them in place till June 14.

Asked about the border tensions between Assam and Nagaland, Sarma said that the boundary will be determined by the Supreme Court of India and both states will have to abide by the verdict.

"Nagaland's Chief Minister has written to us -- about what has written. Atul Bora has also talked to him. I believe that we should not have to go to conflict with a fellow Northeast Indian state," Sarma said, adding that the governments should try to maintain harmony in the region.

Biswa Sarma also said that his administration will continue cracking down on drug peddlers in the region.

"Several families have been destroyed by drugs. Therefore, we have taken this up as a responsibility," he said, adding, "If Assam police does its job well, we will be able to largely remove narcotics from the state."

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