With political advantage in mind ahead of the crucial Assembly poll in Assam where the BJP and its regional allies want to grab power from the ruling Congress, the NDA government in the Centre in all likelihood might try to ink ‘framework agreement’ with the leadership of the pro-talk faction of the ULFA in the next round of meeting with the ULFA at New Delhi.
While ULFA leadership is more or less ready for signing a framework agreement, there is a hitch – one of its core demand – the Centre has no words on the whereabout of 26 ULFA leader and cadres who are missing since the ‘Operation All clear’ inside Bhutan conducted by Royal Bhutan Army on the hide outs that virtually broke the backbone of the group.
A section of the leader of the Arabinda Rajkhowa led pro-talk faction of the ULFA feels that signing any framework agreement that would not have any word of the fate of their missing comrades would lead to utter dissatisfaction among the lower rank cadres who are supporting the ongoing peace process.
ULFA leadership in the ensuing meeting would demand for permission from New Delhi to go to Bhutan in search of their missing leaders and cadres” said a senior member of the pro-talk group on condition of anonymity informed Deccan Herald.
The next round of talks between the Centre and ULFA leadership would take place in New Delhi between March13 to March 15 and the freed founder general secretary of the group, Anup Chetia, who has supported the peace process would also remain present for the talks.
“Earlier the ULFA has submitted a 37-page charter of demands with a key thrust is on putting in place safeguards for the indigenous communities of Assam against infiltration from Bangladesh and boosting the local econom” the ULFA leader further added.