Militant outfit United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) would not enter any peace talks with the government without Anup Chetia.

ULFA leader Shahadhar Chowdhury told Prothom Alo on Friday that the top leaders of ULFA will inform the ministry of home affairs of India that they are not interested in peace talks with them without Golap Barua alias Anup Chetia.

The seventh meeting of ULFA with the home minister Rajnath Singh and home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, was scheduled on 24 November in Delhi.

Shahadhar Chowdhury told the correspondent, “We almost ended the peace talks. We want Anup Chetia to participate in the talks. We hope the central and the state governments will take necessary measures to include him in the meeting.”

“If that does not happen, the meeting should be postponed. There is no point of the meeting without Anup Chetia as he is in India now,” he added.

When asked if it is possible to complete the necessary procedures within this time, he said, “Peace talks are a political decision. The talks and possible treaties will help bring peace to the states. The central government should speed up the process as we have got Anup back after many years. Nothing would be finalized without Anup’s active participation in the peace talks.”

He added this is why the decision regarding the procedure should be a political one.

Anup Chetia was supposed to be brought to Assam from Delhi on Saturday.

ULFA leaders have disagreement regarding the peace talks.

Leaders including Arabinda Rajkhowa, Shahadhar Chowdhury, Pradip Gogoi, Raju Barua, Pranati Deka are for the peace talks while others including the supreme commander of ULFA Paresh Barua, Mukul Hazarika and Jibon Moran are against the peace talks.