ULFA pro-talks faction demands autonomy for Assam

The United Liberation Front of Asom doves, the pro-talks faction of the ULFA, has demanded full autonomy for Assam within the framework of the  Constitution, after detaching itself from the banned militant group's demand for the 'restoration of Assam's sovereignty'.

Mrinal Hazarika, president of the ULFA doves, submitted a 18-point charter of demand to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, to resolve the insurgency problem in the state.

Gogoi assured them that he will send the memorandum to Prime Minister Manmhoan Singh

The ULFA doves claimed all their demands could be solved within the framework of the Constitution. "Still, if the government of India refrains from holding a dialogue with us to find a solution, we may be forced to take up arms once again to continue our struggle," threatened Hazarika.

The ULFA doves' other demands include 70 per cent reservation for indigenous communities in each constituency and the creation of an Upper House in the Assam Assembly for indigenous and ethnic groups.

It has demanded the introduction of dual citizenship and inner line permit in the state and the sealing of the India-Bangladesh border to prevent infiltration.

The ULFA doves have also called for the immediate release of four central executive members of the ULFA -- Pradip Gogoi, Mithinga Daimari, Bhimkanta Buragohain and Ramu Mech -- 'to send out a positive signal about the sincerity of the government to find a solution to the problem of insurgency through negotiations'.