ULFA congratulates Tarun Gogoi

The pro-talk faction of ULFA led by Arabinda Rajkhowa today congratulated Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi for leading the Congress to a third consecutive victory in the just concluded assembly polls.

"We believe the people of Assam has given the mandate in favour of the Congress in the hope of a peaceful negotiated settlement of the long-standing problems of the Assamese people", ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said in a statement e-mailed to PTI.

Rajkhowa said that like the people of Assam "we also have great hope from the chief minister.

" We sincerely hope that during the next five years that there is a permanent political settlement of the long-standing issues of the Assamese people," he said.