Ulfa demands Chetias release before talks with govt
The Telegraph, New Delhi :
Political issues were not discussed at yesterday’s round of peace talks between Ulfa and the Centre since the outfit wants its general secretary Anup Chetia to participate in the negotiations and the Centre is waiting for an “opportune moment” for his release and eventual participation.
After holding discussions at North Block with Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and interlocutor P.C. Haldar, the Ulfa leadership, led by Arabinda Rajkhowa, said no
substantial discussions were held yesterday. The Centre and the Assam government are waiting for Chetia to say he wants to participate, which will create the opportune moment for the governments to not oppose Chetia’s bail application, The Telegraph has learnt. Government sources said procedures will have to be followed before Chetia can move a bail application.
“There was no political discussion today because our general secretary Anup Chetia was not part of the talks,” the outfit’s “foreign secretary” Sashadhar Choudhury said.
“The government has assured us that Anup Chetia will be included in the discussions and our demands looked into,” he added.
The next round of talks is scheduled in December, he said. The Centre, however, kept its cards close to its chest and responded with caution. Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said Chetia’s questioning was still on and only after that could it be said whether he would be able to participate in the talks or not.
A home ministry release said yesterday, “The Union home secretary suggested to the government of India’s representative to examine the request of Ulfa leaders.”
Over the next few weeks, it is expected that Chetia’s “old cases” will come before the courts and his request to the Centre to participate in the talks will clear the decks for a bail application. Cases against Ulfa leaders have not been withdrawn and they are out on bail. Chetia’s case is expected to be no different.
Since all cases against Chetia date to the early 1990s or 1980s, his release on bail before talks in December “is not impossible”, government sources said.
Political issues were not discussed at yesterday’s round of peace talks between Ulfa and the Centre since the outfit wants its general secretary Anup Chetia to participate in the negotiations and the Centre is waiting for an “opportune moment” for his release and eventual participation.
After holding discussions at North Block with Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and interlocutor P.C. Haldar, the Ulfa leadership, led by Arabinda Rajkhowa, said no
substantial discussions were held yesterday. The Centre and the Assam government are waiting for Chetia to say he wants to participate, which will create the opportune moment for the governments to not oppose Chetia’s bail application, The Telegraph has learnt. Government sources said procedures will have to be followed before Chetia can move a bail application.
“There was no political discussion today because our general secretary Anup Chetia was not part of the talks,” the outfit’s “foreign secretary” Sashadhar Choudhury said.
“The government has assured us that Anup Chetia will be included in the discussions and our demands looked into,” he added.
The next round of talks is scheduled in December, he said. The Centre, however, kept its cards close to its chest and responded with caution. Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said Chetia’s questioning was still on and only after that could it be said whether he would be able to participate in the talks or not.
A home ministry release said yesterday, “The Union home secretary suggested to the government of India’s representative to examine the request of Ulfa leaders.”
Over the next few weeks, it is expected that Chetia’s “old cases” will come before the courts and his request to the Centre to participate in the talks will clear the decks for a bail application. Cases against Ulfa leaders have not been withdrawn and they are out on bail. Chetia’s case is expected to be no different.
Since all cases against Chetia date to the early 1990s or 1980s, his release on bail before talks in December “is not impossible”, government sources said.
