ULFA: Peace process a poll gimmick

Holding the Government of India responsible for the delay in peace process, the United Liberation Front of Assam ULFA has termed the entire process of negotiations as an election gimmick of the ruling party.

The latest issue of Freedom, an ULFA mouthpiece states 8216;8216;Their move for talks was nothing but a pre-election propaganda. We have said a number of times that talks must produce results. Now that elections are over, the new government is formed there should be new rounds of talks. But they are trying to delay the whole process.8217;8217;

The latest issue of Freedom that was e-mailed to newspaper offices here on Tuesday said the government was finding one excuse after the other to delay a direct talk with the ULFA. The government, it said, had resorted to 8216;8216;cold-blooded murder8217;8217; of its cadres and that it would have an adverse impact on the ongoing peace process.

The ULFA accused the government of imposing pre-conditions for direct talks and 8220;conveniently forgetting8221; the issue of releasing five of its leaders.