The Government is awaiting a response from the banned ULFA after which the dialogue process with it may evolve, Union Home Secretary GK Pillai has said.
"I understand that the governing council of the ULFA was held inside jail a few days back. They are discussing. We are awaiting a response and as the response comes the dialogue process will evolve," Pillai said.
After a meeting of the top jailed ULFA leaders in Guwahati Central Jail, the group had issued a press statement demanding release of six jailed leaders to take the talks process forward.
The development had come after Home Minister P Chidambaram authorized Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to initiate the dialogue.
"The process has been initiated by the Government of Assam. Let them (ULFA) say. The process cannot be rushed," Pillai said.
Asked how the talks could be fruitful when its elusive ‘c-in-c’ and some leaders of the military wing were still at large, the Home Secretary said, "A majority of members of the ULFA’s governing council are there. A couple of them are not there ... We will welcome them for the talks."
"The people of Assam want a dialogue to resolve the issue. If leaders outside indulging in violence listen to the voice of Assam, they will come forward for talks," Pillai said in an apparent indication that the government was not averse to dialogue without the group’s ‘c-in-c’ Paresh Barua.
{{/usCountry}}"The people of Assam want a dialogue to resolve the issue. If leaders outside indulging in violence listen to the voice of Assam, they will come forward for talks," Pillai said in an apparent indication that the government was not averse to dialogue without the group’s ‘c-in-c’ Paresh Barua.
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