No Govt contacts with ULFA for talks

NEW DELHI, January 17: No formal contacts has been so far established between the Government of India and the outlawed ULFA, to pave the way for talks, highly placed sources told The Assam Tribune here today. The only contact the Centre has had was when the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was recently contacted by a senior Editor of a vernacular daily, on behalf of the outfit. The Editor who spoke to a top official in the PMO conveyed the ULFA's stand and its willingness to review its two pre-conditions, if talks centred around the issue of sovereignty. It has been since conveyed to the person concerned that the Centre is willing to sit for unconditional talks within the ambit of the Constitution. The Government of India is still waiting for its response, sources said. It may be recalled here that the Centre has recently made its stand clear on the issue of dialogue with the ULFA by stating that it is ready for unconditional talks within the para-meters set out in the Prime Minister's 1998 offer. This apart the Centre also wants the ULFA to abjure violence in the State. Even as the confusion over the talks continued, Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who had come to the Capital to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the Election Commission of India, held close door meeting with top Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials here. When contacted, the Chief Minister reiterated his stand that for the sake of lasting peace in Assam, he was willing to step down, as reportedly demanded by the ULFA commander-in-chief, Paresh Baruah. He added that he is still waiting for a response from the outfit. Mahanta further added that his Government would not have any objections if ULFA and the Government of India held direct negotiations. The State Government's view have been conveyed to the Government of India, he added. Meanwhile, sources in the MHA told this newspaper that the Chief Minister was briefed about the developing scenario in the State.