Centre cannot solve insurgency problems through interlocutors: Biswajit Daimary

Guwahati (Assam), Aug 15, 2018

Rajya Sabha member, Biswajit Daimary, believes that the Centre cannot solve the problem of insurgency in the Northeast through interlocutors.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an Independence Day celebration on Wednesday, he said engaging the interlocutors was wastage of money.

“They are given the status of a Union Minister besides office and staff. They move around in flights free of cost to hold talks with insurgent groups. But what have they achieved so far?” he asked.

He insisted on “direct talks” between the insurgent groups and the government.

“The Framework Agreement was signed with NSCN-IM (Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland) in 2015. What did the interlocutor (RN Ravi) did after that? There is now misunderstanding among the neighbouring states. The Centre cannot solve the problem of insurgency in the Northeast by involving the interlocutors,” he claimed.

He also claimed that the peace talks with NSCN-IM, United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) progressive faction, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (progressive faction) and various rebel groups of Manipur made no headway under the interlocutors over the past many years.

“There is no progress in the talks. That is the reason why everyone is dejected. People now want to know if the Centre is monitoring the roles of the interlocutors…The BLT (erstwhile Bodo Liberation Tigers) talks were direct with officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the then Union Home Minister. There should be direct talks. The interlocutors are not required. LK Advani had directly mediated in the BLT talks and in two years, we finalized everything,” Daimary said.

Asked if he will mediate in the ULFA talks, he said he was ready to talk to anybody but the responsibility entrusted should be to solve the issue and not drag it further.

“We must understand that if this is an insurgency problem, this is also a national problem of the locals. The Centre has to try and understand this,” Daimary categorically said.