(a) whether the Government is initiating direct talks with ULFA;
(b) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done;
(c) whether the talks with People`s Consultative Group (PCG) on ULFA is still going on; and
(d) if so, the details of progress achieved so far in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS(SMT. RADHIKA V. SELVI)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) of LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 544 FOR 21.10.2008
(a) & (b): The Government is open to talks with any militant groups including United Liberation
Front of Asom (ULFA) provided they shun violence. The Government has not received any formal
proposal from ULFA for direct talks.
(c) & (d): Three rounds of talks were held with Peoples’ Consultative Group (PCG), set up by ULFA,
between October 2005 to June 2006. However, since there was no direct response from ULFA, and
there were reports regrouping, new raising, movement of stores/arms, violence and extortion by
ULFA cadres, the talks could not proceed further.