NEW DELHI, Nov 1? Outlawed ULFA?s latest threats against Congressmen notwithstanding, the Assam Government is willing to go ahead with the peace process, even as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to put pressure on Bangladesh and Myanmar to bust the camps operated by the rebel groups.
The Chief Minister at the end of his current round of five-day tour met the Prime Minister this morning, and held discussions on a wide-ranging issues from insurgency to gas cracker project though the prime focus was the talks with ULFA and NDFB.
The Chief Minister meeting also came on a day when the CPI-M attacked the Tarun Gogoi Government for being lax in taking firm measures in time to check violent activities. The central committee of the party after its three-day meeting that concluded today, said that they have noted that there were serious allegations about some of the ministers having links with the ULFA.
However, there could be some relief to the Chief Minister because the CPI-M also pressed the Government of India to take up the matter with the Government of Bangladesh in a manner, which makes it aware that it cannot evade the issue of sanctuary for the terrorist groups any longer, it demanded.
Meanwhile, Gogoi addressing a press conference here today said that though the Government of India has been taking up the issues with the neighbouring countries, he wanted the Centre to put more pressure on them to act against the rebels and their camps.
Camps in neighbouring countries were not the only problem for Assam, as the Chief Minister sought the attention of the Prime Minister against insurgent camps in neighbouring States of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. He said new camps under patronage of the NSCN (I-M) have sprung up in Nagaland.
Meanwhile, Gogoi took up the case of Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami?s appointment with the Prime Minister. Dr Singh is expected to meet Dr Goswami in a couple of week?s time. But the Chief Minister stressed that talks with the militant outfits would be held without any condition. He further briefed the Prime Minister about the status of the peace talks with NDFB. He said the State Government?s offer to NDFB has gone out and they were waiting for the outfit to name their representatives.
The ground rules for the ceasefire would have to be finalised before a formal ceasefire is announced. Presently NDFB has asked its cadres to ceasefire and we have asked our forces to hold theirs,? he added. Gogoi, meanwhile wanted the Central Government to make the offer for surrendered militants more attractive. He urged the Prime Minister to work out a new package for the surrendered militants to woo more of them to the mainstream.
Reacting to ULFA?s latest threat to Congressmen, the Chief Minister said that such threat has been always there and despite all the killings by the outfit their support base has shrunk. They are trying to create fear psychosis.
Gogoi said Congressmen in Assam were always working under threat and a few hundred of his partymen have fallen victims to ULFA violence. On the one hand, they talk of peace and on the other they are threatening to kill Congress members. Whatever the threat it would not deter the development activities,? Gogoi said.
The Chief Minister sought additional funds from the Prime Minister to raise the four new battalions of the India Reserve Battalion. He said the State needed around Rs 39 crore to raise a single battalion while the Centre allocate Rs 13-14 crore only.
Gogoi also urged the Centre to expedite the process of setting up the mega gas cracker project. He urged both the Prime Minister and Union Petroleum Minister Mani Shanker Aiyar that a final decision on the project should be taken without further delay.
He said the problem of supply of feedstock continued to mar the project as it has now be revealed that gas available in Myanmar was not suitable for Assam gas cracker project as it does not have the ethylene content. To crack the gas another Rs 1500 crore would be needed, he said, speaking of the latest logjam.