Former Assam CM welcomes ceasefire

Guwahati, Jun 28 (UNI) Former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today welcomed the ceasefire announced by the '28th battalion' of the proscribed ULFA and described it as a development in the right direction. '' The ceasefire move is a correct step in the direction of peaceful resolution of the ULFA problem,'' he said.

''Permanent and peaceful solutions to armed conflicts were the call of the hour for development of the state,'' he addded.

The two-time chief minister, however, alleged that the Congress-led state government was maintaining contradictory stand regarding peace talks with the ULFA.

Pointing to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's statement during initial talks with the ULFA-constituted People's Consultative Group (PCG) that the government had brought the ULFA to the negotiation table, Mr Mahanta said, Mr Gogoi is now claiming that talks have started only now.

The government must have a clear cut policy regarding its stand on dialogue with the insurgent groups, which is an extremely sensitive issue, he stated.

UNI SG KK AB 1652