Guwahati, Nov 18: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the peace process with United Liberation Front of Asom- Independent (ULFA-I) must be taken forward by striking a right balance between the core demand of the outfit and the ambit of the Constitution of India.

Talking to media persons, Sarma said, “For the third time, ULFA(I) extended the ceasefire which is a positive development. We welcome the decision of the outfit. At some point of time, the core issues of the militant outfit have to be deliberated upon and that a proper balance be struck between the outfit’s core demand and the ambit of the Constitution.”

Sarma said, “It is a very long process because by step by step it will go. Within one day it cannot be solved. ULFA was born due to some reason. But now, development has happened in Assam in terms of infrastructure and economy. Most of the burning issues are solved. New problems and thinking have arised now, and our government is taking all slew of measures to solve the issue.”

It may be mentioned that the core demand for a “sovereign Assam” by ULFA-I has over the decades been a stumbling block for a peace dialogue with the insurgent group.

CM Sarma had earlier, referring to the core demand of the outfit, maintained that “a middle ground, which is respectable for ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah and government, needed to be arrived at”.

After Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn-in as the chief minister of Assam, he appealed to ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah to join peace process by shunning the path of violence. After that ULFA-I declared ceasefire due to rising cases of Covid-19.

But, now ULFA-I has extended the ceasefire for another three months which has been seen as a great development between ULFA-I and Centre.