Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Guwahati, December 22 2010:
The anti-talks faction of Bodo underground group National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), responsible for the 2008 serial bombings in Assam that claimed 88 lives, is said to be expressing its willingness to take part in peace talks with New Delhi.
"I met the leaders of Bodo National Conference (BNC) here yesterday (Tuesday).
I was told that the anti-talks faction of the NDFB is giving feelers to them to take part in peace talks," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told journalists at a press conferencein Guwahati on Wednesday.
The BNC is a conglomerate of Bodo political, apolitical and militant groups.
One of its convenors Anjali Daimary is the sister of NDFB anti-talks chief Ranjan Daimary.
Gogoi said the BNC was making all efforts to bring the NDFB anti-talks faction to the negotiating table.
"We're progressing well with the ULFA, DHD (Dima Halam Daogah) and UPDS (United People's Democratic Solidarity).
We are hopeful that the NDFB Ranjan Daimary faction will come forward for the talks," he said.
The DHD and the UPDS, both tribal outfits, have been engaged in peace talks with the government for the past few years.
"We don't have differences with any groups and we don't want to discriminate against any groups.
We will apply the same conditions and follow the same principles for talks," Gogoi said.
Tarun Gogoi added that when he had come to the saddle in 2001, insurgency was one of the major problems afflicting the state.
"Today, we are on the path to achieving solution of the problem," he said.
Meanwhile, the BNC has decided to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi in January to try and expedite the peace process with the NDFB pro-talks faction and also bring the anti-talks faction to the talks table.