ULFA not willing to talk, says Home Minister

GUWAHATI, APRIL 30. The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani today blamed the ULFA for not taking the initiative in starting negotiations with the Centre, and ordered immediate deployment of more para-military forces in the State in view of escalating violence.

Talking to newsmen at the Guwahati airport before leaving for New Delhi, he said the ULFA was not willing to talk despite the Centre's best efforts. ``They have not yet contacted us or shown keenness in abjuring violence to find a solution to the whole issue,'' he said.

According to him, the ULFA had started with a definite operation to target AGP and BJP men in the poll and said more para-military troops should be deployed, especially in lower Assam where the ULFA has spread terror by killing seven people and attacking an AGP candidate.

Mr. Advani said the AGP-BJP alliance would get a majority. ``The polls in Assam and other States are completely different. There, the political parties fight but here the terrorist groups also fight with the political parties. I have taken it as a compliment since they have to fight with a democratic system despite not believing in this,'' he said.

Mr. Advani also reiterated the old line of the BJP with regard to the IMDT but conceded that nothing much could be done on the floor of Parliament considering its composition. He, however, hoped that the judiciary would soon strike it down so that the Foreigner's Act could be implemented all over the State.

- UNI

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