Govt ready to hold talks with ULFA: Chidambaram

Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the government was ready to hold talks with 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 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 United Liberation Front of Asom (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.