‘Sovereignty’ crucial for talks: Mamoni to PM

The issue of sovereignty might be a stumbling block in arranging talks between the Centre and the ULFA, according to noted Assamese writer I...

The issue of sovereignty might be a stumbling block in arranging talks between the Centre and the ULFA, according to noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today.

‘‘The Prime Minister accepted my appeal for talks with the ULFA, but said that he would have to consult experts before giving a firm commitment. Though the PM’s response was positive, I have a feeling that the process of establishing peace in Assam could be a long one,’’ Goswami told Express.

The Jnanpith Award winner said the PM expressed his eagerness to find a solution to the insurgency problem, but talking sovereignty — which is the core issue for ULFA — may not be possible for the government. ‘‘Some middle path will have to be found. Probably that is what the PM wants to discuss with experts… Without an assurance of a discussion on the sovereignty issue, the ULFA may not come,’’ she said. The outfit would prefer to talk directly to the PM and not to the state government, she added.

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The ULFA had contacted Goswami to sound the government on their willingness for a dialogue. Before submitting the petition to the PM, Goswami had read it out to ULFA leader Paresh Baruah and taken his approval. She added that she would give Baruah ‘‘feedback’’.

Goswami said her 40-minute meeting with the PM was extremely cordial. ‘‘We are old Delhi University colleagues and had a lot to talk about,’’ said Goswami, who is the head of the university’s Modern Indian Languages Department.

Congress in-charge for Assam Digvijay Singh later said ‘‘sovereignty cannot be a precondition to discussions’’.