New Delhi: The Government has received an appeal, which indicates willingness of the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) to hold talks with the Centre without pre-conditions and the Government has pointed out its willingness to talk to all groups which are prepared to abjure the path of violence, the Lok Sabha was informed today (Dec 14, 2004).

In a written reply, Minister of State for Home S Regupathy said the Government has received the appeal for 'peace talks' with ULFA from Indira Goswami, Jnanpith awardee author.

The appeal indicated the willingness of ULFA to hold talks with the Government of India without pre-condition and also specifically referred to their 'core demand' of sovereignty, he said.

In reply, it was reiterated that the Government had consistently expressed its willingness to talk to all groups, which are prepared to abjure the path of violence, Regupathy said.

Bodo: The Centre has asked the Assam Government to hold talks with National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), he said adding that it has been conveyed that representatives of the Central Government will be associated during talks.

Regupathy said NDFB has declared ceasefire unilaterally and expressing its willingness to have political peace talks directly with the Union Government.

There is no proposal to create a separate State of Bodoland, the Minister said, pointing out that the autonomous district known as Bodoland Territorial Area District has been set up in Assam.