Govt ready to hold talks with ULFA, says Chidambaram

New Delhi, Dec 9 (PTI) Home Minister of India P
Chidambaram Wednesday said the Indian Government was ready to
hold talks with United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and
asserted that dignity of the leaders of the banned outfit will
be maintained when the peace dialogue happens.

"If there is an offer of talk, we will be happy to hold
talks with ULFA," he said answering supplementaries during
Question Hour in the Upper House of Indian Parliament (Rajya
Sabha).
The Centre, he said, was willing to talk to all insurgent
groups of North East including ULFA if they abjure violence,
lay down arms and give up demand for sovereignty.
He, however, added that there has been no offer of talks
from ULFA till now.
On whether the Government intends to talk to the arrested
ULFA leadership "with gun held at their temple," Chidambaram
said due dignity will be maintained in the talks, when they
happen. "...certainly they (ULFA leaders) will be treated with
dignity (when talks happen)."
Referring to the arrest of Arabinda Rajkhowa, the top
leader of ULFA, Chidambaram said he along with two of his
associates were "apprehended" by the Border Security Force
(BSF) on Meghalaya-Bangladesh border and later arrested by
Assam Police as he was wanted in connection with several
cases.
"On information that BSF has apprehended two or three
people on the border of Meghalaya and Bangladesh, a team of
police officers from Assam went there and took (them into)
custody," he said.
After their identities were established, Assam police
apprehended them as they were wanted in connection with
several cases, he said. PTI ANZ