Tuesday, July 5 2005 18:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: There should be no talks with the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) till it abjured violence and gave up its demand that parleys with the Centre focus on the sovereignty issue, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) President L K Advani said today (July 5, 2005).

"The ULFA has to give up its armed struggle if it wants to hold talks and also give up its sovereignty demand for Assam," he told newsmen in Guwahati.

"People with weapons holding talks is not acceptable," the former deputy Prime Minister said.

"What about the sacrifices of freedom fighters during the Independence movement? Will they be forgotten?" the Opposition leader asked.

Meanwhile, in a statement to the local media here last night, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa warned Advani, "Not to indulge in communal politics in Assam 'where people were against communalism, casteism and illegal occupation of their land.' Dubbing Advani as a 'propagator of communal disharmony,' the statement warned people against Advani's "motive to destroy the age-old unity among communities and groups of the N-E States."