GUWAHATI, March 6— The Chief Minister, Sri Tarun Gogoi today announced that he would be keen to visit any country to initiate dialogue with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) if he is acceptable to both the Central Government and the militant outfit. Replying to the discussion on the cut motions on the supplementary demand for grant for the Police department, Sri Gogoi said in the State Assembly that the Mizoram Chief Minister went to foreign countries to meet the NSCN leaders as he is acceptable to both the Centre and the militant. “If I am acceptable to both the concerned parties, I would be keen to visit either Bangladesh or Bhutan to meet the ULFA leaders to initiate dialogue”, he added. He said that the House should pass a resolution irging upon the militant outfits to come forward for talks.
Referring to allegations of withdrawal of PSOs of the opposition party leaders, Sri Gogoi said that strict instructions were issued to provide PSOs judiciously and on the basis of threat perception. However, at the same time, he said that some persons approached the High Court to get PSOs.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Home, Sri Rockybul Hussain said that steps have been initiated for modernising the police force. He revealed that the police personnel are provided with sophisticted weapons like AK series rifles, SLRs and bullet proof jackets to deal with the militants. Policemen are also sent for training with the National Security Guards (NSG). He asserted that the overall law and order situation in the State has improved and people can now move around freely till late at night. The common people have stopped supporting the militants. The Government recently signed a historic accord with the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), while, the Dima Halong Daogah (DHD) has signed a ceasefire agreement, headed. He repeated that talks are on with one faction of the United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), while, efforts are on to bring the other faction to the negotiation table. He also revealed that the State Government has been requesting the Centre to initiate talks with the ULFA and NDFB.
On the allegation of withdrawal of security of the Opposition leaders, Sri Hussain said, “the people living in glass houses should not throw stones at others”. He said that during the tenure of the previous Government, security cover of several prominent Congress leaders were withdrawn. He also said that some persons with criminal records were provided PSOs in 1999, and when the present government withdrew the PSOs they approached the Courts.
Earlier, moving a cut motion, Sri Bimalangshu Roy (BJP) suggested that the police personnel should be kept free from political interference. He said that the police force should be modernised and they should be given best possible training. He also suggested that steps should be taken to provide sophisticated weapons to the police personnel so that they can deal with heavily armed militants. Sri Dilip Kumar Saikia (AGP) pointed out that the Mizoram Chief Minister visited foreign countries to hold talks with NSCN leaders and asked whether the Assam Chief Minister would like to go to Bangladesh or Bhutan to hold dialogues with ULFA leaders.
Sri Saikia demanded that the Central Government should provide hundred per cent grant for modernisation of the Assam Police force. He pointed out that some policemen are still using old and rusty .303 rifles and carbines and demanded that sophisticated weapons should be provided to the police so that they can deal with militants. He alleged that security cover of some Opposition leaders were withdrawn, while even criminals were provided PSOs. He also alleged that some persons including a Zila Parishad member in Silchar were using pilot and escort vehicles in violation of the rules. He also demanded setting up of Police Commisionerate in Guwahati city and said that the police force should be kept free from any kind of political interference. Sri Ali Akbar Mian (AGP) also participated in the discussion.