ULFA is still a banned organisation, says Sashadhar Choudhury

NEW DELHI - ULFA Foreign Secretary Sashadhar Choudhury has said his outfit is still outlawed according to the Indian Constitution and it was upto the Government of India whether it wanted to remove the tag or not.

Addressing a press conference after meeting the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram and Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai, Choudhury said: “As far as the Indian Constitution is concerned, ULFA is still banned means I am also and I am still an outlaw. You will have to understand so we are here to be a good citizens like you.”

Choudhary said that the leaders were here after an underground life of 27 years with the sole objective to resolve various issues through dialogue.

Choudhary said the meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere and without any conditions from either side.

He also laid emphasis that Chidambaram made it very clear that he was personally very keen on resolving the long-standing issue in the best possible manner so that the dignity, honour and self-respect of the people of Assam were not at all affected.

He described the meeting of ULFA with the Home Minister and the Home Secretary as cordial.

Home Minister, he said, has stated that he is keen to solve this problem,” said Chaudhary.

Responding to a question whether ULFA would participate in the coming Assembly elections in Assam, Choudhary said ULFA would have zero involvement in the elections.

“We have been stating time and again that our involvement in this election…is zero involvement,” added Choudhary.

Answering a query whether opposition from Paresh Baruah, the self-styled Commander in Chief would have any effect on the dialogues with the Government, Choudhary said that his opposition would have ‘absolutely no effect’.

Choudhary also informed that the delegation would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on February 14 and apprise him of the developments in the talks. (ANI)