Communist Party of India general secretary A B Bardhan called upon the Central government to initiate steps to hold unconditional talks with the militant outfits in the North East, including the United Liberation Front of Asom, for the sake of peace and development of the region. "The government must open dialogue with the militant outfits, including the ULFA, at the earliest, without setting any pre-condition," Bardhan told the media in Guwahati.
He said the CPI will submit a memorandum to the central government demanding unconditional talks with the insurgent groups, later this month. "The talks with Naga rebel group NSCN were started without any condition and that can be emulated in respect of other insurgent groups in the region," he said.
"Once the talks start, other related issues like ceasefire, sovereignty, extent of autonomy that can be granted can be dealt with during course of the peace process ," the senior CPI leader commented.
"The government has tried all repressive measures against insurgents but failed after an extent as some amount of popular sentiment is with the militants. There is some measure of reality on the issues raised by these outfits and the government must address these," Bardhan said adding dialogue was the only solution to insurgency problem and the government must pursue it.
On the issue of talks with the ULFA, Bardhan urged the government to facilitate a meeting of the top ULFA leaders so that they could take a decision to engage themselves in a peace process with the government.
