The government has asserted that there has been tangible progress in its meeting with top leadership of ULFA. The Union Home Secretary, R. K. Singh said this following his 90-minute meeting with the ULFA delegation led by its self-styled Chairman Arbinda Rajkhowa in New Delhi today. Calling it a very constructive and fruitful discussion, Mr. Singh said that both the sides have decided to carry forward the dialogue process. Union Home Secretary stated that he would review the progress of talks with ULFA periodically.

Rajkhowa echoed a similar sentiment saying the dialogue was very satisfactory.

Asked about the issues which figured in the talks, the Home Secretary said, the ULFA team raised issues like safe guard to the indigenous people of Assam but a detailed discussion on it and issues like Centre-state relations would be taken up in the next round of dialogue. The Centre's pointsman for the ULFA talks P C Haldar has been asked to hold further meetings with the banned group to discuss some aspects in details.

AIR Correspondent reports that the pro-talk faction had submitted its charter of demands to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in August last year which was followed by the first round of talks with the Union Home Ministry in October. The 12-point charter of demands include Constitutional amendments to give Assam greater control over its natural resources, revenue generation, participation in the planning process, ensuring a secure demographic situation, besides accelerated and balanced development.