Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday said signals for peace talks with the outlawed ULFA are positive and the parleys can be held without its elusive chief Paresh Barua.
"We have not been able to get a definite reply from them but the signals are positive...the indications are good. We are hopeful," Gogoi told reporters in Guwahati.
"We are keeping our doors open for the talks without Barua. We want to bring everybody including him for talks. But if he does not come, talks can still take place," he said.
Citing examples of peace parleys with different insurgent groups, Gogoi said, "talks have been started with the pro-peace NDFB group without its 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary and also with the NSCN without Phizo. If 80 per cent (of the militants) come, talks can be held."
On Barua's recent list of targets, he said "Such threats are nothing new to us. We have been receiving them for the last 20 years or so.
"Ten years ago they created a fear psychosis in the minds of the people. But today people are in a defiant mood. I have seen their reaction.
"The ULFA will try to indulge in violence, but I have instructed the security forces to keep strict vigil and deal with them firmly even though we are open for the talks." PTI
