ULFA rules out unconditional talks with Centre

Guwahati, Mar 29 (UNI) The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today ruled out holding unconditional talks with the Centre, saying it would be ''a farcical exercise and amount to compromising with the outfit's struggle for the sovereignty of the state''.

In a statement to the media here, outfit chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said both the ULFA and the government should sit down for an ''unconditional dialogue'' and rejected ''farcical talks without any pre-condition''.

''It would amount to making a compromise which we cannot afford to do after the sacrifice of over 10,000 cadres in the continuing armed revolution, '' he added.

The ULFA chairman lambasted those political leaders who had attended the recent two-day conclave organised by the People Committee for Peace in Assam (PCPIA) here.

He also criticised Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's comment that there was no need for holding a plebiscite in the state on the issue of sovereignty.

UNI