Come, feel pulse of people: Gogoi to ULFA

Gogoi said it was no use hiding in Bangladesh and talking about Assam. 8220;Staying in Bangladesh will not help them understand what the Assamese people feel. I am 100 per cent sure the people do not support their cause. And if they do not believe me, they can come and see for themselves. I will ask the Centre to ensure their safe passage, if they want,8221; the Chief Minister said.

Gogoi8217;s appeal comes after the ULFA denied involvement in the Bulltu Bazar blast in which two persons were killed. The ULFA has also denied hand in the Athgaon-Fancy Bazar blast in which seven persons were killed.

Interestingly, Gogoi has also expressed doubts over the efforts by the noted author and Jnanpith award winner Indira Goswami to reopen channels of dialogue between New Delhi and the ULFA leaders. 8220;I don8217;t understand why she does not have a one-to-one discussion with Rajkhowa and Barua and convince them to come out for direct talks with the Government,8221; he said.

Goswami had last week met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and appealed to him to renew peace efforts with the ULFA. This time, however, she did not take any member of the ULFA-nominated People8217;s Consultative Group with her. She led the delegation of a new group called Citizens8217; Peace Forum, which included noted social worker Suchibrata Roy-Choudhury and retired judge S N Rahman among others.