GUWAHATI, June 20 ? Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is optimistic that sooner or later militant outfits like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) will come forward for talks for political solution of the problem of insurgency. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Sri Gogoi said that so far the State Government has not received any positive indications from the militant outfits. But at the same time, he is hopeful that the militants would ultimately come forward for talks. The NSCN came forward for talks after decades of insurgency, while the solution of the problem of insurgency in Mizoram came after a long time. I am confident that the militant outfits of Assam will also come forward for talks,? he added.
The Chief Minister said that since taking over office, he has been requesting the Central Government to take all possible steps to initiate talks with the militant outfit. However, the Central Government has been claiming that so far no positive response came from the ULFA, he added. He also said that the principles followed to initiate dialogue with the NSCN(I-M) should be followed in holding talks with the militants of Assam. Sri Gogoi admitted that so far no individual or organisation has come forward to mediate between the Government and the militants. ?A mediator has to be acceptable to both the sides. We are ready to extend all possible help to any individual or organisation who comes forward to mediate,? he asserted. He pointed out that time and again the ULFA had questioned his authority to comment on talks with the outfit, but at the same time, he asserted that he would continue to make all-out efforts to initiate dialogue with the militants as ?I consider it to be my duty.?
Bodo talks : The Chief Minister asserted that the ongoing peace talks with the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) have not been deadlocked. He said that the State Government has an open mind on the issue and the Cabinet sub-committee would continue to hold meetings with the Bodo leaders to finalise the number of villages to be included in the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). Sri Gogoi said, ?We have asked the Bodo leaders to justify their demand for inclusion of more villages in the proposed BTC. ?If the Bodo leaders can justify their demand, the State Government will definitely consider the same. We have not closed our doors on this issue,? he asserted.
Eviction drive : The Chief Minister stressed the need for maintaining a balance between ecology and suffering of the people. He claimed that the State Government did not suspend the eviction drive against the encroachers of forest land due to political pressure. ?The eviction drive is still on in different parts of the State, but at the same time, we are trying to minimise the sufferings of the people. The Government has also decided to set up an expert committee to prepare an action plan to maintain ecological balance,? he added. Sri Gogoi stressed the need for maintaining the ecological balance in the State and admitted that the failure to do so would result in a bleak future for the State. He pointed out that the failure to maintain the ecological balance would result in increase in problems like pollution, flood, erosion, etc and stressed the need for an afforestation programme.