ULFA rejects Centre’s offer, says no talks with leaders in jail

The banned Assam-based militant outfit ULFA on Wednesday rejected Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s offer for peace talks echoing their chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa’s stand “no peace talks with ULFA leaders in jail“.

“The ULFA leaders cannot sit for peace talks from jail with handcuffs,” jailed ULFA ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain told reporters in Tezpur where he was produced before a fast track court. The leaders have to be free for convening meetings of the ULFA’s highest decision making committee to decide on peace talks, he said.

Buragohain, whose real name is Bishnujyoti Buragohain, and is addressed as ‘Mama’ by ULFA cadres, accused Mr. Chidambaram of not perceiving the sentiments of the local people.

“Mr. Chidambaram is not sensitive to the sentiments of the people here. He is not fully aware of Assam’s situation, including its economic problems and geographical set up,” he said.

Buragohain also accused some intellectuals from the state of acting as “brokers of the government for negotiating talks between ULFA and government for their own interest”.