PM assures all party delegation of talks with ULFA

Guwahati, Nov 29 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told an all party delegation from Asom that the Centre was ready to initiate direct talks with ULFA without any pre-condition, delegates said.

Delegation convener Pabindra Deka and Dhirendra Deb Adhikari told newspersons here today, the Prime Minister had also assured them of looking into the matter personally.

The delegation, comprising 12 political parties, met Dr Singh in New Delhi yesterday and submitted a memorandum urging him to personally intervene into the peace process and hold talks with the banned outfit immediately without any pre-condition.

The delegation also met President A P J Abdul Kalam and submitted a memorandum. Dr Kalam assured them of taking up the matter with the Prime Minister immediately, both the conveners said.

They also met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and demanded holding of talks with ULFA without further delay. Mr Patil expressed his satisfaction at the initiative taken by the all party delegation for talks with ULFA.

''He told us that the door is still open for talks,'' Mr Deka and Mr Adhikari said.

They also expressed concern before the Central leadership regarding Chinese claim on Arunachal Pradesh and urged the Centre to strongly register its protest on the issue.

They urged the Centre not to undertake survey work on the river bed of Brahmaputra for exploring oil and natural gas which may endanger the ecological and environment balance of the state.

The delegation comprised Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive), Nationalist Congress Party, Purbanchaliya Lok Parishad, Jatiya Akya Mancha(Asom), the Assam United Democatic Front, the RSP, RPCI, CPI(ML) Janata Dal(S), Janata Dal(U), the SUCI and the Samajwadi Party.

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