The BJP's Assam unit on Monday opposed talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) minus self-styled Commander-in-Chief of the outfit Paresh Barua. The party called for involving all top ULFA leaders, including Barua, in the talk process.
Assam BJP president Ranjit Dutta told journalists that his party was opposed to the State Cabinet decision to start the talk process with the ULFA even without Barua. For finding a permanent and effective solution to the issue, it was important that all top leaders of the outfit participated in the dialogue.
Mr. Dutta urged the government expedite the talk process with all insurgent outfits, including the ULFA, in the manner in which the people of Assam wanted it.
He also clarified that the electoral tie-up between the AGP and the BJP would continue for the 2011 Assembly polls too. The BJP had drawn up plans to strengthen the party in 80 Assembly constituencies. It would launch a series of agitation programmes in June and July against alleged failure of the State government to curb price rise, increase in electricity tariff and various other issues.
AGP follows suit
Earlier, BJP's electoral ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) maintained that peace talks with the ULFA minus Barua would not be fruitful.
ULFA's central publicity Secretary Mithinga Daimary has said that since the outfit was yet to take a decision on the talks offer at the organisational level, it was not relevant to talk of holding talks minus Barua.
Mr. Daimary, who is on bail along with ULFA vice chairman Pradip Gogoi, said the government must first release the six jailed leaders of the outfit so that they could take a decision at the organisational level.
