ULFA talk on June 22

Guwahati, June 8 (UNI) The much-awaited next round of talks between the Centre and the ULFA-appointed People's Consultative Group (PCG) will be held on June 22.

This was formally conveyed by Mr V K Duggal, Union Home Secretary to Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami last night at New Delhi.

Dr Goswami said Union Home Minister Sivraj Patil will chair the next meeting between the Union Government and the PCG.

The official source said from now onwards the Union Home Ministry will be handling the ULFA talk, not the Prime Minister's office. The PCG this time wants that the talks be held under the aegis of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

In the last round, it was agreed that the Home Ministry would take over the peace process from the office of the NSA. The delegation also proposes to request Mr Narayanan to be present at the next meeting of the PCG, besides asking him to expedite the peace process.

The announcement of the date has made the PCG happy but they are a bit reserved over the non presence of key PMO officials in the proposed talk.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) has demanded more confidence building measures before the start of the direct talk with the ULFA and Government.

The PCG has also resolved that the Government should immediately release the five top ULFA leaders who are in custody. ''Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi himself had assured that immediately after his swearing in and we are looking forward to it,'' said Mr Bhuyan.

The ULFA, which is fighting for an independent homeland since 1979, nominated the PCG members in October last year to work out a mutually acceptable peace process leading to the formal declaration of a bilateral ceasefire between the outfit and the centre.

UNI