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Title : Regarding prospects of peace initiative in Assam and North-East.
SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL (DIBRUGARH): Sir, the people of Assam and the North-East have given a popular mandate to the Government of India and demanded it to negotiate peace talks with the ULFA, the NSCN (I-M), the NDFB and other groups in order to restore peace in the region. It is our firm belief that only peaceful dialogue with strong political goodwill can bring out a lasting solution to the issues of insurgency in the region.
So, as a mark of goodwill gesture on the part of the Indian Government, I strongly demand the withdrawal of the repressive law, that is the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958[r14] .
The Indian Government had constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy to examine the law and submit a report on Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958, which will advise the Government for the future course of action. So far, we have come to know that the Committee has already submitted a report in favour of the repeal of the Act. So, I strongly demand the Government to immediately clarify their standpoint in this regard. There seems to be no policy regarding talks in the case of ULFA because it has failed to speak out any timetable or aims regarding this talk. It appears that the Government is going slow in the matter of holding the talks, and they are not sincere at all. In the case of talks with NSCN (I-M), the Government has failed to address the question of sentiments of Manipur. It has failed to maintain the lifeline of the National Highways, and its failure is leading to a situation of dismemberment of Manipur. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please be brief.
SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL (DIBRUGARH): In the case of NDFB also, the Government is showing lack of policy direction. So, the peace talk is not advancing at all.
Sir, for lasting peace initiative in the region, the Government should encourage dialogue and talks with ULFA, NSCN, NDFB and other groups. This is the most important thing to do. I call upon you to direct the Government to take such transparent and multi-pronged efforts so that a lasting solution can be found out.
DR. ARUN KUMAR SARMA (LAKHIMPUR): Sir, I associate with this.
MR. SPEAKER: Both of you were absent.