Ulfa has to abjure sovereignty demand before talks: Gogoi

The United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) has to abjure violence and give up its demand for sovereignty before peace talks are held, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi today said, and warned the group of stern measures if it resorts to violence.

"The door for discussions is always open. It is up to the Ulfa to hold peace talks with the government. Talks are not a one-sided affair. When they talk, we will talk to them. Except sovereignty, we will talk with them on all issues.

They also have to abjure violence before coming for discussions," Gogoi told reporters.

"If they resort to violence, then we will take stern measures against them," he warned.

Asked if peace parleys are possible without the participation of Ulfa 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua, he said, "If talks can be held with one faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and with National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) without their leader Phizo, why not with Ulfa?"

On 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa and 'deputy commander-in-chief' Raju Barua being taken to court in handcuffs, Gogoi said, "It has been done as per the law. It is a police matter. No specific instruction was given. As they are involved in violence and as
a safety measure, they were handcuffed, so that they could not be forcibly taken away."

Asked if there was a split in the Ulfa, Gogoi said, "From the fact that Paresh Barua is repeatedly sending e-mails to Rajkhowa through the media, it can be deduced that there is some difference."