Gogoi not to take any pro-active role in ULFA talks

Guwahati, Aug 6 (UNI) Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today refused to take any pro-active role on the ULFA talks and insisted the outfit must give a letter, expressing its willingness to talk, even if civil society is urging both the Centre and ULFA to soften their stands for the sake of peace in the state.

Mr Gogoi, in a 'Meet the press' programme, said five jailed ULFA leaders could be released only after the receipt of the formal letter.

When pointed out that ULFA has expressed their intention by forming the Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) for a negotiated settlement, the Chief Minister pointed out that the outfit had never talked of negotiation.

''ULFA says only after the release of five jailed leaders, the central executive of the militant group can formally meet. Then they would only decide about the talk. That is not acceptable to the state,'' he said.

But on the other hand, the PCG blamed the Centre of unnecessarily making things complicated.

''There was no talk about the letter when we last met the Union Government. Now fresh conditions are being imposed,'' PCG convenor Lachit Bordoloi said.

ULFA talks has returned to square one with the militant outfit slapping three conditions for beginning direct talks with the Centre, which in turn has asked for a letter.

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