Rally in Assam demanding negotiations between Centre and NDFB

Guwahati, May 6 (UNI) Thousands of people from Bodo dominated areas of Assam today took to the streets, demanding that negotiations between the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Centre be started before May 31.

The protest came in response to a call given by the All Bodo Peace Forum (ABPF), a Bodo civil society group that took the initiative to persuade the NDFB to declare unilateral ceasefire in October last year.

People in different parts of Bodo areas, including four district headquarters within the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District Council (BTADC) and in Tezpur in northern Assam, took out the rally to register their protests against centre ''dragging its feet over talks with the NDFB.

The ABPF said it feared that the ''uneasy peace'', prevailing in the area following ceasefire between the NDFB and the Centre, might get jeopardised if the NDFB, disagreed to extend the truce that is set to expire on May 31.

The ABPF has also sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded unconditional invitation to the NDFB for talks before May 31.

The ABPF has warned that ''dilly-dallying'' over the peace talks might lead to a volatile situation in Bodo areas and ''the government would be held responsible for it.'' The NDFB has been threatening of withdrawing truce unless there is an invitation for talks from the Centre.

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