Guwahati: The ULFA threat on Congress had
no impact on the voter turnout in the first phase of polling
in Assam and peace parleys with the group will continue
without its elusive `military chief` Paresh Baruah, Chief
Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday said.
"Paresh Baruah-led anti-talk faction`s threat to
Congress workers and leaders had no impact on the voter
turnout in the first phase of polling on Monday," Gogoi told
reporters here.
"BJP, AGP and others are also freely campaigning
despite the ULFA threat to Congress. This is possible because
we (Congress) brought peace to Assam... Though BJP and AGP do
not agree that peace has returned to the state, the country
has acknowledged it," he asserted.
He said peace talks with ULFA without Paresh Baruah
will continue.
"We want Paresh Baruah to come but if he doesn`t, it
does not mean there will be no talks. Talks will continue,"
the chief minister said.
"Even Phizo (Naga insurgent leader) did not come for
the peace parleys but peace returned to Nagaland," he said.
PTI
