There’s nothing to negotiate with ULFA: Governor

Two days after the ULFA-sponsored People’s Consultative Group received a formal invitation from the Centre for the second round of talk...

Two days after the ULFA-sponsored People’s Consultative Group received a formal invitation from the Centre for the second round of talks, Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh said there was nothing to negotiate on the issue of sovereignty with the United Liberation Front of Assam.

‘‘There is nothing to negotiate. Just lay down arms and join society,’’ Governor Singh said while interacting with the media at the Raj Bhavan.

He, however, clarified that he was not making any policy statement on behalf of the government. ‘‘This is my feeling that comes out of my academic knowledge,’’ he said.

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Governor Singh also said that it was a normal strategy for militant groups to go for talks when they become weak. ‘‘This way they buy time, regroup and gather strength,’’ he said.

As the GoC of the Tezpur-based 4 Corps, Singh had launched the first-ever operations (Operation Bajrang) against ULFA in November 1990. His statement is certain to have repercussions, especially with the Centre opening the door for the talks.

Singh also pointed out that Assamese society as a whole had already started dissociating itself from the ULFA.

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