ULFA leaders have sent 'feelers' for talks: Gogoi

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday claimed that top leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom who are either in captivity or out on bail were willing to hold talks with the government and had sent "feelers" to him in this regard.

He, however, said the government was not in a hurry to hold talks, as it wanted more ULFA leaders to join the negotiation process.

Talking to the media here Gogoi said, "They (ULFA leaders) have informed me that they are prepared for talks. We will convey it to New Delhi while we are waiting for those senior ULFA leaders who are still at large to come over for talks."

"We have told the ULFA leaders in jail and those out of jail on bail to try roping in other cadres and leaders still at large for the negotiation," Gogoi said.

He added that the government especially wanted commanders of different active battalions of the banned ULFA to join the talks, and also hoped that ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua would also come for the talks.

"The ULFA still have a few active battalions. We hope commanders of those battalions will also to come and join the peace process. Those who are willing to talk will be facilitated to come over," Gogoi said.

Several top-rung ULFA leaders including its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa are now lodged in jail in the state after they were arrested in Bangladesh and handed over to Indian authorities in December last year.