ULFA calls talks with the Centre 'constructive'

New Delhi: ULFA leaders on Thursday called the first round of talks with the Home Secretary GK Pillai 'constructive'.

An eight-member delegation of ULFA leaders held the first round of peace talks with the Centre in the capital. ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa led the delegation.

"After a long time, we have come out for a solution. Today's meeting with the Home Secretary was constructive," said the ULFA delegation.

Apart from Rajhkowa, vice chairman Pradip Gogoi, foreign secretary Sashadhar Choudhury, finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Barua, publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, cultural secretary Pranati Deka and ULFA ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain were part of the ULFA delegation.

"We are here with the aim to resolve the conflict through political dialogue," said ULFA leader Sashadhar Choudhury.

ULFA described the talks as a confidence building measure and said will also meet the PM on Monday.

Leaders of the banned ULFA also met Home Minister P Chidambaram as they began face-to-face unconditional talks with the Centre in an attempt to usher in peace in insurgency-hit Assam.

The talks raised hopes of an end to three decades of insurgency in Assam. Home Minister Chidambaram, after the talks, said he hopes to give the ULFA an honourable and just solution within the framework of the constitution.

"I have met ULFA team. Now talks have begun and we hope to give them an honourable and just solution," said Chidambaram.

The Home Minister also said, "I welcome them. I assured them that the Government of India and government of Assam will engage them in sincere and meaningful talks and I am confident that we can find just and honourable solution."

The agenda for the talks were set last Thursday when ULFA accepted the proposal for peace talks without any pre conditions. But the hurdle in the talks is ULFA commander in chief Paresh Barua who is rejecting the talks. He has sent a video of him dancing with bihu dancers in Burma, sending a clear message that he is refusing the talks.

It remains to be seen what steps the Central Government will be taking to bring Barua to the peace table.