The People's Consultative Group nominated by the banned United Liberation Front of Asom has pulled out of the deadlocked peace process aimed at facilitating direct talks between ULFA and government of India.

The PCG members stated in Guwahati on Wednesay that they felt insulted by the 'inconsistent attitude' of the government of India and said that it would not be possible for the group to remain a part of the peace initiative.

PCG spokesman Arup Borbora said, "We have felt insulted by the government because during our third round talks on June 22 last, the issue of a 'letter of commitment' from ULFA neither came up for discussion nor was it mentioned in the joint statement issued after the discussion. Suddenly, the government sought a 'letter of commitment' from the ULFA keeping us in the dark."

It was unwarranted on part of the central government to ask for a 'letter of commitment' from the ULFA after the third round of talks, Borbora said.

The PCG spokesman said the central government should have released the five senior ULFA leaders from jails as agreed upon in the third round of talks.

"We took strong exception to the government putting a pre-condition for release of the ULFA leaders whose freedom was sought by ULFA to help itself take a final decision on direct talks with the central government," the PCG member commented.

"In view of the character of the government making somersaults and its pattern of behaviour after the June 22 round of talks, including backing out of the priorities mentioned in the joint statement, we don't believe there is any point for further parleys with the government," the PCG spokesman said.

However, the members of the PCG felt that the peace process hadn't collapsed yet, but had hit a deadlock. The PCG, which was nominated by ULFA on 29 September, held three rounds of talks with the government on 26 October, 2005, 7 February and 22 June, 2006.

The opposition Asom Gana Parishad on Wednesday said that PCG's pulling out of the peace process was very unfortunate. AGP general secretary Hitendra Nath Goswami alleged that both the Centre and the state had played a 'negative role' in regard to the peace initiative.

The AGP leader stated that the Centre had held another round of discussions with PCG before it decided to resume Army operation in the state.

The AGP leader apprehended that resumption of the army operation would once again let loose a reign of teror in the state.