Decision on ULFA plea after Centre's request, says Gogoi
http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/29/stories/2005102918291200.htm
Special Correspondent
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said his Government would decide on the release of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leaders if the Centre sought its opinion on the outfit's demand.
Mr. Gogoi told reporters that the issue was raised by the ULFA-formed People's Consultative Group (PCG) in their first meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 26. The delegation was told that the Centre would seek the opinion of the State Government in this regard.
The Chief Minister hoped that the dialogue between the Centre and PCG would lead at least to a ceasefire between the militant outfit and the Centre. He insisted that the ULFA problem was political and hence a political solution had to be found.
Ultimate objective
He said the basic and ultimate objectives of ULFA and the Assam Government were same peace and development of Assam. The difference was in the means of achieving it, he said, adding that while ULFA wanted to achieve it by seceding from the country and the State Government by remaining within the country.
The PCG delegation, which arrived here on Friday after holding the two rounds of discussions first with the Prime and Minister and the second with the National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan said the talks marked the beginning of a political solution to the 27-year-old insurgency problem.
Talks positive
The talks were positive and revolved around how to solve the problem and the role the Centre and the State Government would have to play, it said.
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