PM welcomes ULFA's decision to shun violence

"More recently, the leadership of the main insurgent group, ULFA, has thought it fit to give up the path of pursuit of violence and to enter into discussion and dialogue with the government," he said replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the President's address.

Singh said he had been trying to reach out to ULFA from the year 2005. "At one time I did succeed, but later on they backed out. I am very happy that they have now accepted our invitation to discuss and to have a dialogue," he said.

Singh said the decision of ULFA to give up violence was a "positive development". "We should encourage both sides to work out arrangements which will lead to satisfactory outcomes of these discussions," the Prime Minister said.