| New Delhi, Feb. 4: The pro-talks group of Ulfa has demanded a separate Constitution on the lines of Jammu & Kashmir for Assam, an "Upper House" in the state Assembly and the setting up of a Supreme Court bench. "An article, in line with Article 370 that provides for special constitution and protection of Jammu and Kashmir, can be incorporated in the Constitution to afford similar protection to Assam," states Ulfa's charter of demands, the contents of which were accessed byThe Telegraph. The Arabinda Rajkhowa-led pro-peace faction of the militant group that signed a suspension of operations agreement last year, wants "complete" autonomy to manage Assam's economic, forest, land, water and mining resources. The first round of formal talks between the outfit and the Centre will possibly be held this month, sources said. The Ulfa's charter shows the clear demarcation between Rajkhowa's demands and that of anti-talks faction chief Paresh Barua. The former wants autonomy while Barua insists on discussing sovereignty, a subject that the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) has also waived off. Article 370 of the Constitution empowers the J&K government to decide on subjects other than defence, finance, foreign affairs and communications. However, the historical roots of J&K and the involvement of Pakistan in the entire affair make that state's problems different from others, home ministry officials argue. Moreover, the constitution of J&K has been amended several times and has allegedly been severely watered down. There are demands in J&K to now "restore the autonomy" to the 1950s era with a sadr-e-riyasat (president) and a wazir-e-azam (prime minister). Ulfa presents a dilemma to the mandarins in the home ministry. It demands autonomy with an underlying agreement that Assam is an integral part of India but needs reparation from injustices. In the Northeast, Nagaland at present enjoys special status under Article 371A and the Constitution has special provisions to protect Arunachal Pradesh. Sensing that boundary disputes with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland are festering wounds, Ulfa has made a peculiar demand. It has asked the Centre to amend the Constitution so that "mandatory consent" of Assam Assembly is required to "change boundaries". The Ulfa's demand for a Supreme Court bench raises hope that justice delivery will improve in the remotest corners of the region. "There should be a Supreme Court bench or at least an appropriate provision under Article 134(A) to ensure judicial remedy to the people (in the region)," Ulfa states. The demand for an Upper House in Assam, read with the demand to tweak the Constitution to grant more autonomy, is being viewed with consternation in the ministry of home affairs, it is learnt. Rajkhowa has demanded that in the Upper House each community should have one representative and small communities may send representatives by "rotation". The Upper House will be elected for six years, the charter states. The concept of an "Upper House" is not alien at the central or federal level in Indian democracy. Mandarins in North Block said this demand could be "considered". | 
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