Anup Chetia to lead ULFA talks team

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

JAGIROAD, Jan 9: The pro-talks faction of the ULFA has given responsibility to the outfit’s general secretary Anup Chetia, who has recently walked free from jail, to carry forward the peace-process with the Centre.

From now onwards, not ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa but outfit’s top leader Chetia would lead the faction in the peace-process, sources said.  

The decision was taken in a closed-door meeting of the pro-talks ULFA today held at Jonbil Club here at gaon Paper Mill campus. The meeting also discussed about the future course of action in the ongoing peace-talks, a pro-talk ULFA leader privy to the meeting said.

It may be mentioned that ULFA leader Anup Chetia attended in an executive meeting of the outfit after 1995. Chetia was lodged in a jail at Dhaka in Bangladesh for last 22 years.

Talking to reporters here after the meeting ULFA leader Chetia said that today they have discussed about the issue of granting ST status to six ethnic tribes of the State.

He also said that he would share his views with different communities on peace-talks.

Chetia further made it clear that he has already made his stand clear before the people of Assam and not bound to say anything to ULFA (I) leader Arudoy Dohutia regarding his stand.

In today’s meeting, besides Rajkhowa and Chetia, outfit’s top leaders Sasha Choudhury, Pradip Gogoi, Chitraban Hazarika, Prati Deka, Raju Baruah, Mril Hazarika and some other senior leaders were also present.

It may be mentioned that the pro-talks faction of ULFA led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa recently asked the Centre to include Chetia, in the ongoing peace process. The request was made during a meeting between the government and an ULFA delegation in New Delhi to review the progress made in the talks.

“There will be no political discussion without Chetia’s participation in the talks. We have appealed to the government to ensure his early release from judicial custody so that he can join us… Otherwise, the peace process would remain inconclusive,” Rajkhowa had told reporters after the meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.