Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi today said the government is not in a hurry to start talks with Ulfa, and asked the banned group to shun violence and give up its demand of sovereignty for facilitating the dialogue process.
"The government is not in a hurry to start the dialogue process, and it will take time to start the process. If Ulfa abjures violence and gives up the demand of sovereignty, the government is ready to talk," Gogoi told reporters here, after his 15-minute-long meeting with home minister P Chidambaram.
"But if the Ulfa continues violence, it would be dealt with firmly, and security forces are always ready," he said.
Gogoi hoped that by initiating the dialogue process "we will be able to bring the final settlement to the issue".
When asked whether cases against arrested Ulfa 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa will be withdrawn, he said, "If they come to talk, we can look into that."
Gogoi discussed the state's law-and-order situation in the wake of the arrest of top Ulfa leaders Rajkhowa and 'deputy commander-in-chief' Raju Barua.
"Rajkhowa is a prize catch and some more people are expected to surrender," he said.
According to Gogoi, Ulfa 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah is in Kachin area in Myanmar, and since the Myanmar government does not have full control over these areas, it has not been able to catch him.
"Paresh Baruah shuttles between Myanmar and China," he said.
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