DPM asks NE ultras to come to negotiating table

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani asked insurgent outfits in the North East to come for talks with the Centre even as he asked the voters to give another term to the NDA.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on Saturday asked insurgent outfits in the North East, particularly the ULFA in Assam, to come for talks with the Centre even as he asked the voters to give another term to the NDA.

HT Image

''As the NSCN-IM accepted the government's invitation for discussions within the country after intial talks in Thailand, the ULFA could similarly come for parleys amidst tight security provided by the government'', he said at an election rally at Diphu in upper Assam where a large crowd had gathered to hear him despite a bandh called by insurgents.

Addressing rallies across key Lok Sabha constituencies in the state going to polls in the third phase on Monday, he cited successful instances of such parleys saying Bodo Liberation Tiger after surrendering formed the Bodoland Autonomous Council for self governance.

Even the Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir was initially unwilling to sit for talks with the Centre, but after the meetings they realised there was nothing religious about the BJP, Advani said.

At another rally in Dibrugarh, the Deputy Prime Minister said the NDA Government had decided on a separate Union Ministry for Welfare of Tribals and special Scheduled Caste wards to address their problems which were different from others.