Centre, ULFA should start talking informally first, says Mahanta

GUWAHATI, January 16: Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta indicated here today that the ULFA should immediately begin some kind of informal discussions with the Centre, in order to at least pave way for declaration of a cease-fire between the two sides. Mahanta, who was talking to journalists at a Bhogali bihu party in his official residence here today morning also pointed out that it was only following informal parleys that cease-fires were declared in Nagaland ans well as Kashmir."Look at the cease-fires in Nagaland and Kashmir. Both were preceded by informal discussions between the government and the militant groups. Informal talks have always helped, and the ULFA should realise this," the chief minister said. It may be recalled that different political as well as student groups of the state have been urging both ULFA and government to declare a cease-fire in order to cool down the situation in the state. Only discussions between the government and ULFA could help find a lasting solution to the vexed issue of insurgency in Assam, chief minister Mahanta said, adding that he had no objection to the ULFA talking directly to the Centre. "I have no objection to the ULFA talking directly to the Centre and this my government has been saying since the very 1997," Mahanta added. When asked to react to the ULFA's condition that the talks should be held on the issue of sovereignty, the chief minister said he stood by his government's earlier stand that there should be no pre-condition whatsoever from any side. He however added that the ULFA should abjure violence before coming to any kind of a dialogue with the government. "Violence and discussions, whether formal or informal, cannot continue side by side," the Assam chief minister said.It may be recalled that the Centre had last week turned down an offer made by the ULFA for talks with the single issue of sovereignty, with the union home ministry pointing out that talks could be held only within the ambit of the Constitution. Mahanta also denied reports published in a section of the media that the ULFA had sent some feelers through some intermediaries. "Neither the union home ministry nor the ULFA has got in touch with the Assam government in this matter," he added.