Guwahati, Dec. 4: Union home secretary V.K. Duggal today refuted Ulfa’s accusation that he was putting a spanner in the peace process, saying that his “straightforward, sincere and honest” approach should not be mistaken for obstinacy.

“Ki koise (what is it talking about)?” Duggal said in Assamese, picking his words carefully to rebuff the outfit’s claim.

The Ulfa, in its mouthpiece Swadhinata, had claimed that Duggal was in favour of a military solution to the insurgency problem and that he was negating whatever steps the outfit had taken for the peace process.

The allegation came after Duggal’s remark that Ulfa must state in writing its willingness to hold a dialogue with Delhi within the parameters of the Constitution and also stop violence.

Stressing that Ulfa’s assessment was incorrect, the Union home secretary said he had met members of the People’s Consultative Group and held talks with them to find a political solution to the Ulfa problem.

Ulfa was merely misinterpreting his straightforwardness, said Duggal, who was here on his way to Delhi from Imphal to review the security arrangements for the National Games.

“I believe in straight talking. Our stand towards Ulfa is very clear. First it has to abjure violence. After all, it takes two to tango,” he said.

The bureaucrat said Ulfa could not continue to kill innocent people and police and extort money and then talk about peace in the same breath. If it gives any indication of its willingness for talks, the Centre was ready to discuss all possible issues, Duggal added.

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, in his New Year briefing to the media, had also said that Ulfa’s demand of sovereignty as the core issue of the talks would not be acceptable to any government.

Terming Ulfa’s demand for “sovereignty of Assam” as the Achilles heel of the peace process, the chief minister said discussing something that “nobody has the mandate to concede” did not make sense.

“A government has to function within the parameters of the Constitution. We have given ourselves the Constitution to uphold the integrity of the country and not to disintegrate it,” Gogoi had said.