Prafulla Kumar Mahanta not convinced of govt-ULFA peace process

GUWAHATI: Former Assam chief minister and senior AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today said he was not not convinced by the tall claims made by chief minister Tarun Gogoi of achieving significant breakthrough in the process of peace talks with the ULFA.

"Gogoi has said he hopes Paresh Baruah (ULFA commander-in-chief and leader of the anti-talk faction) will come to the peace process which indicates that there is some understanding between them", Mahanta said in an informal chat with reporters his residence to celebrate Rongali Bihu, Assam's national festival here.

"Arabinda Rajkhowa has already gifted him a Kahi Bati (brass bowl, a traditional gift) and Gogoi hopes Paresh, as he calls him, will do the same. I wonder what prompted him to say that", he said in a lighter vein.

Gogoi on the contrary had accused Mahanta of having links with Paresh Baruah after his statement that the peace process will not be meaningful if the elusive ULFA leader was not included in the peace process.