New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday ruled out the possibility of talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on the issue of sovereignty. "Talks with ULFA are not at all possible on the issue of sovereignty," clarified Sarma on being asked about the possibility of discussions with the banned organisation. Ever since Sarma assumed the charge of Assam's Chief Minister, he initiated the process to start talks with ULFA. However, the talk has not yet proceeded as ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua has been pressing his demand for sovereignty.
Asserting that the situation is at a critical stage, Sarma said, "Talk with ULFA is at a very peculiar situation. ULFA is of the view that they will discuss only sovereignty. And right from the President of India to an MLA, everybody takes an oath to protect sovereignty. So, we are looking for a viable option for both the parties." He informed that 'some people' are in talks with Pradesh Barua so that he can come to the negotiating table while he himself is talking up the issue with the Central government.
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Sarma was talking to the reporters in New Delhi after concluding his three-day visit to the national capital. During his stay in Delhi, Sarma met President Ramnath Kovind, Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Pralhad Joshi. "During my interaction with Smriti Irani, we discussed the issue of child nutrition," said Sarma. The Chief Minister during his meeting with Coal and Mine Minister Pralhad Joshi appealed to him to legalise the mining of coal in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills.
"At present illegal mining of coal is going in in these areas. I have appealed to Prahlad Joshi to legalise the mining in the areas so that the government get some revenue," he said.
When asked about the issue of the border conflict with neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland, Sarma said that he is in talks with his counterparts of all three states. "I have already written to Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga in the issue. In fact, Chief Secretary of Assam and Mizoram are sitting for bilateral talks on the border issue in New Delhi on July 9," said Sarma.
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He said that all the state governments should restrain themselves and continue to talk to solve the border dispute amicably. Notably, a clash broke out between the people of Assam and Mizoram along the Hailakandi sector during the last two days over the issue of land encroachment. On being asked about his statement regarding population control in the state, Sarma said that he is in discussion with student leaders and intellectuals on the issue.
"They also understood the seriousness of the matter. Only thing is that some section of people are trying to create debate over the matter because a BJP chief minister is raising the issue," said Sarma.
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