Guwahati: The Assam Government on Tuesday said political dialogue between the United Liberation Front of Asom and the Centre would become a reality after the outfit nominated its team for negotiations.

The Government said discussions could be held on all issues within the ambit of the Constitution. This was stated by Forests and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in the State Assembly while replying to short notice questions raised by the former Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar, Mahanta. Mr. Hussain said the Government considered it both an insurgency as well a political problem.

Mr. Mahanta wanted to know when the political dialogue would start and whether there was any bar to discussing the sovereignty question.

The People's Committee for Peace Initiative, a conglomerate of 21 organisations, staged a dharna in front of the Assembly on Tuesday, demanding the release of five jailed ULFA leaders and a halt to army operations by July 30.

Responding to a demand of the People's Consultative Group in the third round of discussions for release of jailed ULFA leaders to facilitate direct talks with the outfit, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had said the request for the release would be favourably considered in consultation with the State Government. He urged the PCG to ask the ULFA to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment for talks to be held at the earliest.

The Opposition AGP pressed for regional autonomy to Assam as a solution to the various problems facing the State. Moving a private member motion in the Assembly, Opposition Leader Brindaban Goswami said the secessionist movement launched by a section of the youth was a result of over centralisation of power at the Centre.

Education Minister Ripun Bora, while opposing the motion, said the AGP had sought regional autonomy only to become a dictator and alleged that the party had not decentralised the power from Dispur to the various ethnic communities and panchayats.

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