Centre has begun face to face interactions with the leaders of the banned outfit ULFA to usher in peace in insurgency-hit Assam. An eight-member ULFA delegation led by its so-called chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa met the Home Minister Mr.P. Chidambaram at his North Block office in New Delhi today as a part of an introductory meeting.

Following this interaction Mr. Chidambaram said ,the Centre and Assam government will engage ULFA leaders in sincere and meaningful talks. He expressed confidence that a just and honourable solution will be reached. Mr. Rajkhowa said that the modalities of the talks have not been worked out so far and will come later.

A senior Home Ministry official said,the meeting was followed by a full session with senior Home Ministry officials led by the Home Secretary, Mr. G K Pillai.

AIR correspondent reports, today’s meet assumes significance as it took place for the first time in ULFA’s 31-year-old history. On February 5, the ULFA announced that it will sit for unconditional talks with the Centre respecting the wishes of the people of Assam. It also apologised for the violent acts it committed.

The ULFA leaders released from jail recently have decided to hold unconditional talks with the government but the faction led by the group’s commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua is opposed to it.

Before leaving for the national capital, the ULFA leaders met Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and sought his cooperation to take forward the peace process with the Centre. The ULFA delegation is also likely to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on February 13 after his return from Kerala.