India Govt holds peace talks with Assam separatist ULFA group

New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) The top leadership of ULFA, a separtist group in India's Assam state, today held talks with the Indian government in New Delhi and discussed various aspects of its 'charter of demands' which sought amendment in the Indian Constitution to find a lasting solution to the three-decade-old insurgency problem in the northeastern state. During the 90-minute meeting, United Liberation Front of Assam delegation led by its 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa discussed with India's Home Secretary R K Singh and other officials their demands and resolved to carry forward the dialogue process to find an amicable solution. "It was a very constructive and fruitful discussion. I think we have achieved very good progress in the meeting," Home Secretary R K Singh told reporters here. Rajkhowa too echoed a similar sentiment saying the dialogue was "very satisfactory". "We discussed all issues concerning Assam's peace and development. We all agreed to carry forward the dialogue process," Rajkhowa told reporters after the talks which was held after a gap of six months. Asked about the issues which figured in the talks, the Home Secretary said the ULFA team raised issues like "safe guard" to the indigenous people of Assam but a detailed discussion on it and issues like Centre-State relations, would be taken up in the next round of dialogue. Observance of ground rules, signed by both sides, surrender of arms and ammunition and total halt of operations by security forces against the pro-talk faction were some of the other issues which were discussed, sources said. The meeting discussed various aspects of the group's 'charter of demands' which sought amendment in the Constitution for finding "meaningful" ways to protect the rights and identity of the indigenous people of Assam. The meeting, which was also attended by the representatives of the Assam government, also deliberated in detail on various aspects of the ground rules of the Suspension of Operations. ULFA 'foreign secretary' Sashadhar Choudhury said "all contentious" issues were discussed in the talks. He said they have asked the government to bring back ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia, currently lodged in a Dhaka jail, from Bangladesh. "A breakthrough on Chetia's return is expected soon," Choudhury said without elaborating. In its 'charter of demands', the ULFA also demanded change of rules and law and said a solution to their demands was not possible under the provisions of the existing Constitution. Among other demands of the group include discussion on grounds for "ULFA's struggle and their genuineness", status report on missing ULFA leaders and cadres -- numbering around 50 -- including those missing since 2005 when the Bhutan government conducted offensives and other socio-economic issues. PTI