Violence can spoil peace talks: Centre to ULFA

Government on Monday warned that violence can spoil the atmosphere for upcoming talks.

Accusing the ULFA of adopting pressure tactics, Government on Monday warned that violence can spoil the atmosphere for upcoming talks.

HT Image

Referring to Sunday's incidents in which ULFA militants blew up railway tracks in Sibsagar and damaged an oil pipeline in Dibrugarh, Home Secretary VK Duggal said, "ULFA is adopting tactics to pressurise the Central Government. These are tactics we understand and we can reply to them...These are not good tactics".

Duggal said he had personally spoken to the Indira Goswami-led Peoples' Consultative Group (PCG) spearheading negotiations on behalf of ULFA with the Centre.

"When talks are slated to take place, these incidents of violence can spoil the atmosphere. We can also deal with violence but right now we want to talk about peace," the Home Secretary said.

Duggal said he had spoken with Chief Secretary and top officials of the Assam government and apprised them of Centre's views on the issue.

The third round of talks between PCG and Home Minister Shivraj Patil are expected to be held in the third week of this month.