GUWAHATI, Jan 1 � Asserting that the peace process with the ULFA was moving in the right direction, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today reiterated that the much-awaited talks with the outfit could start even without its elusive �c-in-c� Paresh Barua as most of the top leaders were keen on a dialogue.
Gogoi who was addressing the media said that the Government could even consider lifting the ban on the ULFA if necessary.
Asserting that the proposed talks would be within the framework of the Constitution, Gogoi said that �first we will see what the outfit asks and then we will see how much we can accommodate� sovereignty is non-negotiable and only Paresh Barua is asking for sovereignty and not the other leaders.�
Gogoi said that formalities concerning the judicial process for bail for the jailed leaders were taking some time while the ULFA leaders, too, needed to sit for their general council meet preceding the dialogue.
On the prospects of talks with the anti-talk (Ranjan Daimary) NDFB, the Chief Minister said that the Government had received written communication from the outfit for having a ceasefire. �We have received a written, positive message from the Ranjan Daimary faction for a ceasefire. We are confident of engaging all the militant outfits in dialogue within this year,� he said.
