By IANS,
New Delhi/Guwahati : Leader of the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) Arabinda Rajkhowa Monday termed as successful the talks with the central government on peace and development in Assam.
“The discussion today was held on the basis of the 12-point charter of demands, which we had submitted to the government of India earlier. The discussion remained satisfying and we hope that the government of India will take our demands seriously,” said Rajkhowa, who led the pro-talk Ulfa delegation to New Delhi.
The Ulfa faction is likely to meet the representatives of the central and Assam governments in May for the fourth round of talks.
“We have raised before the government representatives the issues concerning Assam’s peace and development. We have found their response to be very constructive and satisfying,” said Rajkhowa.
Another senior leader of the pro-talk faction, Raju Baruah, expressed happiness over the way talks have been progressing and said that the discussion Monday were positive.
“We do not want to disclose much until we reach the final stage. We can only say that the response of the government of India is very positive towards our demands and we have raised all our demands,” Baruah said.
Asked about any need of amending the constitution for success of the peace talks, Baruah said, “These issues will be taken up as and when necessary.
“During the talks, if we find that the Constitution of India has become a barrier for the talks, we would definitely take up the issue of amending the constitution.”
A five-member delegation of the pro-talks faction of ULFA leaders led by Rajkhowa met union Home Secretary R.K. Singh and other senior home ministry officials in New Delhi Monday.
“The talks were constructive and positive,” R.K. Singh told reporters in the national capital.
Besides Rajkhowa, other members of the ULFA team were Raju Baruah, Chitraban Hazarika, Pranati Deka and Mithinga Daimary.
On the next round of talks, Baruah said that “the next round of talks will be held soon” and that they would fix a date for it after discussion with the centre’s interlocutor P.C. Halder.
The pro-talk faction entered into formal peace talks with the government after most of the senior leaders were arrested in Bangladesh in December 2009. These leaders subsequently expressed their willingness to sit for talks and the government later released them on bail so that the peace process could be initiated.
In February last year, the first round of talks were held between an eight-member delegation of the pro-talk faction led by Rajkhowa and in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi.
In October last year, the pro-talk delegation met the central government representatives in New Delhi for the second round of talks.