ULFA ready for talks but won't lay down arms

The banned United Liberation Front of Assam has said it was ready for negotiation with Centre but would not give up arms.

"We want a political solution and are ready to hold discussions but not by surrendering arms. If the Centre can hold discussions with the Naga outfits, then why not with us," ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said in a statement e-mailed to the media in Guwahati on Sunday night.

He alleged that the Centre was not interested in resolving the political situation in Assam but was adopting different yardsticks for talks with different outfits. The Centre was holding talks with Naga outfits who have not surrendered arms but was insisting ULFA should give up arms before talks could begin, he claimed.

"The Centre's attitude towards Assam has been always negative and it has no interest in resolving the state's problems," he alleged.