The outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has accused the Government of India of maintaining double standards in initiating peace talks with different rebel groups.

In a statement emailed to newspaper offices from an undisclosed place, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said while the Government of India had insisted that it would hold talks with the ULFA and others only after such groups laid down their weapons, the same stand was not maintained in case of some other groups.

“The government which has been insisting on the precondition that groups like ULFA should first surrender or deposit their weapons, has been carrying on peace talks with the Naga groups for several years now without even once asking those groups to lay down arms. This stand of the government, applicable only to groups in Assam, is not only unacceptable, but also an insult to us,” Rajkhowa said.

The ULFA chairman also referred to the abduction and subsequent release of West Bengal police officer Atindranath Dutta, saying the incident was preceded by a statement from Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that the government would not hold any talks with the Maoists till they gave up violence. “While the West Bengal Chief Minister announced on October 22 that there would not be any talks with the Maoists until they gave up arms, it was the same night that a police officer was released following a negotiation,” the statement added.

Rajkhowa said the ULFA welcomed moves made by some rebel groups to initiate political processes aimed at finding peaceful political solution to their issues. “We welcome such moves. The people of Assam too want a peaceful situation,” he said.

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