With talks still a distant possibility, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday revealed that the Government has in fact succeeded in establishing ‘‘informal contacts’’ with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).Taking questions at a press conference at the end of his three-day trip to Manipur and Assam, the PM said noted litterateur Indira Goswami had met him and conveyed the ‘‘desire’’ of the ULFA to meet for discussions. ‘‘We would however like to know more precisely, who the people are who want to come forward to find a peaceful solution,’’ the Prime Minister said.‘‘Some informal contacts have been made, but what we would like to emphasise, is that once they shed the path of violence, we are ready to talk. We cannot have a dialogue when they are also holding guns simultaneously,’’ Prime Minister Singh added. Earlier in his speeches during the past three days, the PM repeatedly stressed on the point that it was not necessary to resort to a gun culture to find solutions. ‘‘Our democratic system has the resilience and strength to take divergent views. We can find credible solutions through peaceful negotiations,’’ he added.Last week, Assamese author Indira Goswami conveyed to the PM ULFA’s desire for talks.
