New Delhi, July 3 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said he is hopeful of finding a middle path to start peace talks with the banned ULFA as the insurgent group has been demanding that negotiations should be centred around "sovereignty" whereas he took oath to protect India's "sovereignty".
Sarma said if the ULFA and the government can find an honourable position, then the talks can be started. "We are in a very peculiar situation. (ULFA chief) Paresh Baruah wants to talk on the issue of (Assam's) sovereignty, while I have taken oath as chief minister to protect the country's sovereignty. To start the talks, either he has to change his stand or I have to defy my oath. "Since Paresh Baruah is not changing his stand and if I defy my oath, I will have to leave my post, we will have to find a middle ground," he told reporters here. Sarma said that "some people" are talking to Baruah so that he can come to the negotiating table. "I am hopeful that something could be found so that we can start the peace dialogue," he said.
He said that he understands the compulsion of Baruah but at the same time the ULFA chief should also understand his (CM's) compulsion. Sarma after taking oath on May 10 had appealed to the hardline faction of the ULFA, headed by Baruah, to come forward for peace talks and resolve the more than three decade old insurgency problem in the state.
.jpg)
