Govt awaiting ULFA's response for intiating peace talks

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) The UPA government is awaiting a formal communication from top ULFA leaders indicating their willingness to enter into negotiations with Centre/State Government without any pre-conditions, Minister of State for Home Affairs Radhika Selvi informed the Rajya Sabha today.

Ms Selvi, in a written reply, said Nagrik Shanti Manch (NSM) President Indira Goswami had recently presented a memorandum to the UPA Government for the resumption of peace talks between the Centre/State governments and the ULFA leaders.

The MoS said Dr Selvi, inter alia, has been informed that the government was awaiting a response from ULFA regarding their desire to hold peace talks without any pre-codition. The response is yet to be received from the ULFA leaders.

She said the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) was in force since June 1, 2005. The NDFB has been repeatedly requested to submit its Charter of Demands so that discussions could be initiated but they have not submitted them so far. It is, therefore, premature to indicate the time frame for formal talks with NDFB.

The Minister said Dr Goswami had earlier taken the initiative for talks with the ULFA. After three rounds of talks with Peoples' Consultative Group (PCG), which was set up by ULFA, the governemnt had declared unilateral SoO by Army against ULFA from August 13, 2006 to September 20, last year with a view to creating a conducive atmosphere for holding peace talks.

There was no direct response from ULFA and some inputs of regrouping, new raising, violence, collection of weapons/ explosives andv extortion by ULFA cadres were received. As a result, counter-insurgency operations against ULFA were resumed, she added.

UNI