No Peace Talks with ULFA-I Until Paresh Baruah Personally Joins Table: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday claimed that meaningful peace negotiations with the banned ULFA-Independent will only move forward if its chief, Paresh Baruah, himself comes to the negotiating table.

The CM’s statement came hours after ULFA(I)’s self-styled “Major General” Arunoday Dahotia – regarded as one of Paresh Baruah’s closest military confidants – and his personal security officer Francis Axom surrendered before security forces at Pangsau Pass on the Indo-Myanmar border on Saturday.

Addressing reporters in Rangapara, Sonitpur district, Sarma said the surrender of senior cadres, while welcome, does not change the government’s firm stand.

“Talks will only be fruitful if they are held with Paresh Baruah directly, not with any other representative of ULFA(I). Until he expresses willingness to join the process, there will be no substantive progress,” the Chief Minister asserted.

He also quashed rumours that the surrendered leaders would be taken to New Delhi for political-level discussions. “There is no such plan. They will either stay in Tinsukia or may come to Guwahati to meet the DGP – nothing more than that,” Sarma clarified.

The surrender of Dahotia, a long-standing member of ULFA(I)’s core military leadership, is being viewed as a significant jolt to the outfit’s operational strength. Security officials hope it may trigger further desertions in the coming months.

Despite repeated overtures from both the Centre and the Assam government, Paresh Baruah continues to stay away from dialogue, sticking to demands that New Delhi has consistently rejected.

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