GUWAHATE: A Big question mark now hangs over the issue of talks between the Centre and the United Liberation Front of Asom with the outlawed organisation denying its involvement in “any kind of secret arrangements for talks with the Centre” as sought to be “publicized” by the government.
The Union minister of state for home Mr Subodh Kant Sahays declaration at Ranchi recently that the Centre would hold talks with ULFA on Tuesday had taken political circles in the state by surprise since there was no indication of any ground work being done in this regard. Even the governor Mr L.N. Misra is totally in the dark about the proposed talks.
The ULFA has reiterated it will not sit for any dialogue as long as “state terrorism” continues. It has also appealed to the people to “be alert against false propaganda” by the Centre.
Mr Sahay could have either wrongly interpreted intelligence or was misled by the agencies believe some observers.
ULFA SURRENDERS: Another view is that the Centre may try to pull up a show of talks with the ULFA during the Prime Minister Mr Chandra Shekhars visit to Assam. This theory gained ground after the government widely publicised the surrender of 162 ULFA activists in Lakhimpur district which many believe was stage-managed.
None of those who surrendered were allowed to talk to the Press. Some of the villagers present at the ceremony alleged that the “boys” had been picked up from nearby areas by the Army. According to the principal of a college at Phulbari where the surrender took place all the boys were “innocent simple and ignorant”.
The Centre may be trying to pave the ground for elections in the State. An announcement to that effect by the Prime Minister at the rally here is widely expected.
Mr Chandra Shekhar is said to be personally in favor of elections in the state and an announcement will get him and his fledgling party a lot of goodwill it is believed during his visit to the state after taking over as Prime Minister.
Most of the political parties in Assam have been repeatedly demanding elections in the state but the Centre was said to have been watching the developments particularly in view of the ULFAs ultimatum to the members of national political parties to quit by March 30.
Now that the deadline has expired with no major incidental reported so far the Centre feels bold enough to go ahead with the polls.
GWALIOR: Nine people including seven children were killed and four others were seriously injured in an explosion in a house at Sugand village about 45 kms from Bhind.
The injured were admitted to a government hospital here police said.
The house collapsed in the resulting explosion and the inmates were trapped under the debris.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 12, 1991
