Asom Govt calls for peace talk with ULFA

Guwahati, Dec 11: The Asom Government today offered a fresh conditional invitation to Ulfa for a negotiated settlement to end the prolonged phase of violence in the state.

Answering a series of questions in the state Assembly, the government leaders said that they were ready for talks but the Ulfa must first put an end to the violence and make situation conducive for fruitful talks.

The Asom Government made it clear that ''they are sincere towards peace and hoped that it would dawn soon''.

Responding to both oral and written questions, Asom Forest minister Rockeybull Hussein said that since the government returned came to power, some 149 persons have been killed in the insurgency related violences. Besides, there had been 114 explosions. Of the 149 victims, 50 of them were terrorists and another 22 died in police firing. The period also saw 57 kidnapping cases.

The replies, apparently, provoked the Opposition, who wanted to bring an adjournment motion blaming them (the government) of failure to contain terrorism.

As the Opposition and Treasury benches exchanged heated words while debating on the admissibility of the adjournment motion, the Speaker reserved the ruling.

UNI