Assam govt trying to contact Ulfa leaders for talks: Tarun Gogoi

The Assam government is trying to contact United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) leaders who are 'outside' to bring the talks process with the banned outfit on the right track, chief minister Tarun Gogoi said today.

"The government is trying to rope in leaders who are outside," Gogoi told reporters in an apparent reference to Ulfa 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah who is believed to be against the peace process and is now hiding in Myanmar.

"Sometimes we get positive response but every time those are not concrete which makes it confusing," he said when asked about the current status of the peace process initiated by the government.

Terming the Ulfa issue as 'delicate', Gogoi said there was 'good response' from its top leaders 'who are with us', but refused to name them.

He was apparently referring jailed top leaders of Ulfa, including its self-styled chairman Arabindo Rajkhowa, 'deputy commander-in-chief' Raju Baruah and 'foreign secretary' Sasadhar Choudhury apart from vice chairman Pradeep Gogoi and publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary who were released recently.