On the see-saw peace process with the ULFA, the Chief Minister expressed his government's readiness to hold talks with the insurgents provided they dropped the sovereignty condition.

"We are not putting up conditions. It is the ULFA which is placing conditions. We are ready for talks within the framework of the Constitution," he said.

Talking about the growing jihadi activities in the region, Gogoi said in an interview that "Assam is surrounded by different countries and they are encouraging all sorts of activities. Even jihadis are there. I don't say the countries are directly involved. But elements are there and they are not dealing with these elements firmly."

"They (countries) are not flushing out these elements. Even the Centre has not received as much response as was expected from the neighbouring countries, particularly Bangladesh, I can say," Gogoi said.

"These problems definitely go on if these countries give shelter to the ultras. It is very difficult to root them out as their bases are there," he asserted.