Jorhat, May 30: Minister of state for defence Bijoy Krishna Handique today said the Manmohan Singh government was not averse to peace talks with militant groups of Assam on foreign shores, provided there were no more strings attached. “When you look at the world as a global village, holding talks in another country should not be a problem,” he said during the first visit to his constituency, Jorhat, since being included in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.
Handique said starting a dialogue with any militant group was more important than deciding where to talk.
“Why should we make a fuss over the venue for talks? We want peace and we will try to achieve this goal, for it is the only way the Northeast can flourish.”
The outlawed Ulfa has listed three conditions for a dialogue with Delhi. These are that talks should be held in “a third country”, under United Nations supervision and on the subject of “Assam’s sovereignty”.
Successive state governments have urged Delhi to agree to talks abroad, as was done in the NSCN (Isak-Muivah)’s case, but other roadblocks have prevented any such process.
Handique said there was no reason not to start negotiations with any militant group abroad.
“In fact, it has been a successful strategy. Talks with the Mizo National Front (in its militant avatar) were held several times in a foreign country to find a solution to the problem of insurgency in Mizoram. Today, it is one of the most peaceful states of the country.”
The minister, however, clarified the Congress-led alliance at the Centre would not be lenient with any organisation involved in anti-national activity.
“We are committed to the task of restoring peace, but that does not mean we will tolerate violence,” he said.
Handique said the efficacy of the unified command for counter-insurgency operations, which is a three-tier structure consisting of the army, police and paramilitary forces, would be reviewed soon.
The minister said the new government would try to provide more employment opportunities in the armed forces to youths of the Northeast.
“Unemployment is the root of militancy, which means we have to keep our youths gainfully engaged. The defence wings can ease this problem, and I being a representative of this region, it will be my top priority.”
On whether he had a special employment scheme in mind, Handique said he would propose reservation of jobs in the armed forces for youths of the region.