N-E groups keep fingers crossed
Guwahati: The state-ment made by Union Minister of State for Home, Khiren Rijiju that the new BJP government at the Centre would thoroughly examine the on-going process of dialogue with various insurgent groups of the Northeast before decide the future course of action has created an atmosphere of uncertainty among several insurgent groups involved in the peace talks with the Government of India.
Rijiu, an MP from Arunachal Pradesh, stated that the new government in the Centre would not like to hold dialogue with any insurgent group for the sake of holding dialogue and that all such dialogue would be in tune with the spirit and provisions enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
He said dialogue processes that were being carried out sans any concrete objective would be subjected to critical review before taking further step forward.
In that case the on-going peace processes with numerous small and big insurgent groups in the region, will be subjected to review.
This may precipitate uncertainty over many a dialogue process involving smaller insurgent groups.
Many small insurgent groups in the region like groups from Karbi Anglong hill district and Dima Hasao Hill districts in Assam have been engaged in dialogue for many years by the Government of India even as a solution to the problem has still remained a far cry.
Among the rebel groups that have been in dialogue with the Government of India for years included the Naga rebel group NSCN-IM, a faction of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), two factions of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), at least one tribal militant group from Meghalaya ANVC while some insurgent groups from Manipur are in ceasefire with the security forces.
Out of this the peace processed, the one with the NSCN-IM that started in over 15 years back, is expected to deliver a definite result soon while the process of dialogue with the factions of the ULFA and NDFB in Assam have not made much discernible progress.
