Suspension of oeprations extended against NDFB

The government announce a six-month extension to the suspension of operations agreement against the insurgent group, National Democratic Front of Bodoland, reports Aloke Tikku.

The government on Friday announced a six-month extension to the suspension of operations agreement against the insurgent group, National Democratic Front of Bodoland.

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The decision to extend the agreement was taken at a meeting of representatives of the central and Assam governments and the NDFB. At the meeting, the Union home ministry also set a March 2007 deadline for the insurgent group to submit its charter of demands.

The truce between the Centre and NDFB came into effect in June 2005 but formal talks have not been initiated so far. The government has held on to the position that negotiations with the insurgent group could not commence unless the group formally spelt out its demands.

The NDFB has been reluctant, insisting the first round of talks precede submission of the charter of demands. Ahead of the talks, NDFB president DR Nabla had in October declared that the government was insulting the “national liberation movement” by asking them to submit the charter of demands.

That public position appears to have been mellowed down at face-to-face meetings of the insurgent group with government officials. A home ministry spokesman on Friday said “NDFB representatives have assured that they would submit their charter of demands latest by March next year”.

Email Aloke Tikku: atikku@hindustantimes.com