Ulfa to give its 'charter of demands' to Chidambaram

Top Ulfa leaders will meet home minister P Chidambaram on Friday and present the group's "charter of demands", which will set the ball rolling for peace talks with the government.

Top Ulfa leaders will meet home minister P Chidambaram on Friday and present the group's "charter of demands", which will set the ball rolling for peace talks with the government.

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The seven-member Ulfa team, led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, will arrive in the national capital tomorrow. During the visit they will also meet home secretary R K Singh and other senior home ministry officials.

"The meetings will give fresh impetus to the peace process in Assam as the charter of demands will be the basis of dialogue with the Ulfa," a source said.

So far, only preliminary rounds of dialogue between the Ulfa and the Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar have been held in Guwahati.

Last month, the Ulfa had issued a statement saying they will give up violence, suspend all operations and would like to begin talks.

Sources said the banned group is unlikely to press for its key demand of sovereignty and may look for autonomy and other safeguard for the people of Assam under the Constitution.

Representatives of central and state governments and Ulfa will take part in future meetings.

Rajkhowa and other members of the group had introductory talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram in February.

However, the group's elusive "commander-in-chief" Paresh Baruah has been opposed to any dialogue with the government if sovereignty is not discussed in the talks.