Guwahati/Dimapur, September 7 (MExN): Founder of The Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today expressed willingness to facilitate a dialogue process with the anti-talks faction of the ULFA and NSCN (K), if they are willing to join the mainstream. He said he is in touch with both these outfits.
Addressing the media in Guwahati, the spiritual guru said that besides these 2 organizations, he is also in touch with several other militant outfits operating in the NE, reported IANS.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was in Guwahati to deliver the keynote address of the Northeast Indigenous Peoples’ Conference, a convention of indigenous peoples of the region organized by the pro talk faction of the ULFA. The Conference saw participation from 67 armed groups of the region.
The conference also saw the attendance of a contingent of leaders from Nagaland, including former army chief of NSCN (IM) Lt Gen VS Atem and several other leaders from various social, ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. This was informed in a press release from the Art of Living Bureau of Communication.
According to the Economic Times, representatives from the NSCN (K) attended too. Asked about the dialogue process with the NSCN (K) that is currently led by Khango Konyak, the spiritual leader said, as per IANS reports, that some leaders of the faction are in touch with him and that there has been a positive response regarding a talks process.
“Several youth have already expressed their desire to come overground if the government ensures a respectable deal. They are watching how the government handles the case of the 68 youth who recently surrendered in Manipur with our intervention,” the guru revealed. “The Art of Living will continue to work until the last gun is laid down,” he added.
According to him, “We can talk when guns fall silent. Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) will go with the peace prevailing in the region.”
Even as armed groups have increasingly laid arms down in the interest of dialogue and peace, ULFA General Secretary Anup Chetia, according to a report by the Economic Times about the event, said that “It is around one and half years now that I am in Assam. However government is yet to hold tripartite talks. One can gauge the interest of government towards peace process from this fact.”
Nonetheless, the spiritual guru expressed happiness that diverse groups have come together on a common platform to discuss issues facing the region. “There are differences of opinions and I see it as a healthy sign. Once the basic principle of peace is established, all differences can be sorted out,” he noted.
Earlier, delivering the keynote address, he said, “This is a new beginning for the North East. For the very first time, there is a reconnect of people of this region, which is so diverse.” He observed that while the aspiration of every group that has “gone into militancy” has been to achieve prosperity and welfare, he hoped that the region would move from conflict to co-operation, from militancy to understanding and development.
The conference also saw the participation of Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl of Tripura National Volunteers and Dilip Nunisa of Dima Halam Daogah.
On the issue of Rohingya refugees, the guru said, “The issue of the refugees must be solved but the refugees must be treated with dignity till they are able to go back to their own country.”
