Assam: Govt has no hand in ceasefire accord

Guwahati, Jul 7: Congress MP Kirip Chaliha today claimed that ULFA's 28th battalion's unilateral ceasefire decision in Assam was not engineered by the government.

It was a development of a decision, based on ground realities, by a faction of the outfit (ULFA), the Congress leader said.

He also appealed for a restrained approach while commenting on ULFA's peace initiative. He said the positive impacts of the initiatives may be diverted if the focus from the main issue was deviated.

''It was a compulsion of situation that forced ULFA's armed faction to come for ceasefire,'' Mr Chaliha told a news conference.

Referring to inputs from various sources, the MP said the ceasefire decision was the faction's own, taken after consultations with its cadres, and there was no interference from the government, he maintained.

Mr Chakliha has suggested to analyse the factors that led to the faction's decision for a ceasefire and concentrate on the fundamental issues raised by the outlawed.

He was referring to the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration and demand for peace by the public as was stated by the 28th battalion's leaders after the ceasefire.

Maintaining that this ceasefire decision was unique from the earlier such moves by other factions of ULFA, Mr Chaliha said, ''The decision is not a reflection of bitterness of reality but a realisation of experienced maturity.''

UNI