NEW DELHI, Dec 15 ? Renewed violence by outlawed ULFA notwithstanding, the Prime Minister is unlikely to send a signed letter inviting the outfit for talks, as suggested by Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami, highly placed sources said. Though the Prime Minister?s Office is yet to reply to the Jnanpith Awardee?s second letter, the Centre has made up its mind not to despatch any letter signed by the Prime Minister to ULFA.
At least two senior Ministers in the UPA Government have ruled out the possibility of Dr Manmohan Singh writing directly to ULFA chief. Dr Goswami in her second letter to the Prime Minister had urged him to write directly to the outfit clarifying Centre?s stand on the peace talks.
Dr Goswami wanted the Prime Minister to clear the confusion created after Government of India insisted that it was willing to negotiate with any groups willing to abjure violence. ULFA is keen on unconditional talks, but wants it to centre on the issue of sovereignty, while Government of India wants the outfit to shun violence before coming for unconditional dialogue.
The Centre?s policy is to hold dialogue, pursue socio-economic development programmes, have right kind of laws and modernise and strengthen the police and security forces to tackle the activities of the militants with the help of forces to protect properties, limbs and lives of innocent persons in society, the Minister of State for Home said.
Sources said that time was not ripe for the Prime Minister to write to ULFA now clearly trying to differentiate the process adopted in case of the NSCN (I-M). The then Prime Minister, P.V.Narasimha Rao had met the Naga leaders abroad, paving the way for the start of the ongoing peace process that culminated in signing of the ceasefire in 1997.
The academician when contacted continued to strike a positive note and said that she got a word from the PMO yesterday and was assured that her second letter was under study and Government was drafting a reply. Sources said that part of the reason for the Centre treading very cautiously on the issue were reports that the outfit by engaging the Government in talks was trying to buy time to shift bases from Myanmar to Nepal.
Sources claimed that they have reports that ULFA has struck a deal with the Maoist to set up camps in Nepal. They are currently in the process of shifting men and material to Nepal and regroup and insistence for signed letter by Prime Minister may be a ploy to buy some time, a senior Minister said.
The latest development was only confirmation of reports that ever since Bhutan operations, ULFA was looking for safer locations to base its camps. Myanmar and Nepal were identified because of strategic reasons. While Myanmar was near to North-east and presented a ready base to launch operations, because of ongoing turmoil, Nepal too was considered ideal.
In the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs in reply to a question by Rajendra Kumar said that in response to Dr Goswami?s appeal, the Government of India reiterated its willingness to talk to all groups, which were prepared to abjure the path of violence. The appeal indicated the willingness of ULFA to hold talks with Government of India without pre-conditions, and also specifically referred to their ?core demand? of sovereignty, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, sources said that Home Ministry was constantly reviewing the security situation at various levels. It has been decided to deploy more companies of security forces including Central Police forces in Assam. It has been decided to synergies tactical intelligence by State police with the support from Central Police forces and other Central agencies and effective action to be taken by State Police to ensure the security and maintenance of law and order in the State.
Increased visibility of security forces in affected areas has also been organised to give confidence to the people, sources said. However, the Minister ruled out the possibility of creating a joint command for North-east, though Unified Command was already in existence in Assam and Manipur.