ULFA says PM letter confusing, rejects talks

Three days after the PMO allegedly sent a letter to noted Assamese writer Indira Mamoni Goswami, inviting the banned ULFA for talks, the outfit8217;s self-styled commander-in-chief Paresh Barua rejected the offer.

8216;8216;The letter from the PMO is self-contradictory and confusing. It says the Indian Prime Minister has not put any pre-conditions while offering to hold talks with any group prepared to abjure the path of violence, which itself is a precondition,8217;8217; Barua stated in an e-mail sent to Express tonight.

With this, the three-week-long parleys 8212; initiated by Goswami 8212; also came to a halt. Barua, who had only yesterday stated through Goswami that he would respond to the letter after discussing it with other senior leaders of the outfit, did not mention whether he had already held such talks.

Yesterday, ULFA vice-president Pradip Gogoi 8212; lodged at the Guwahati Jail 8212; had remarked that Singh8217;s offer for talks was 8216;8216;nothing but old wine in new bottle8217;8217;.