NEW DELHI: Holding the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) responsible for wrecking the peace process in Assam, the Home Ministry on Tuesday said the banned militant group had failed to give a firm assurance about participating in direct parleys with the Union Government.

Lok Sabha member from Dibrugarh Sarbanand Sonowal raised the stand of ULFA during a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the State and the Central Governments were willing to release five detained ULFA leaders but the group gave no firm date for participating in direct talks, official sources said.

Mr. Patil said the Government favoured talks with any group that was willing to hold parleys and abjure violence.

`Won't be witness

to killings'

"However, the Centre cannot be a mute witness to the killing, extortion and harassment of innocent people."

Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal told presspersons that while the dialogue offer was unconditional, the militant group did not show any eagerness for talks.

"There are reports suggesting that the ULFA is going to increase attacks," he said.

The Centre was still willing to hold talks with ULFA if it showed signs of abjuring violence.

"Violence and talks cannot go hand-in-hand," he said.

Mr. Jaiswal said there were several suggestions from MPs on various issues, including the appointment of an administrator for Chandigarh, a post held by the Governor of Punjab, and appointing the Delhi Chief Minister as Chairperson of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), a post held by the Lt-Governor.

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