NEW DELHI, Nov 17 ? The top brass of the outlawed ULFA including commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah are willing to come down to Guwahati for dialogue provided they get a formal invitation from the Government of India, Jnanpith Awardee Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami said here today. Dr Goswami was asked to convey this to the Government of India by the ULFA commander-in-chief.
The message apparently meant to convey ULFA?s seriousness as well as to refute allegations that it was under total grip of the ISI, is to be conveyed to the Prime Minister?s Security Adviser, MK Narayanan. The ULFA has sought a written invitation from Government of India mentioning sovereignty as the core issue for discussion. ?If Government of India responds then the ULFA leader told me that they were willing to come down to Guwahati to participate in the talks,? Dr Goswami told this newspaper.
Meanwhile, efforts were on to figure out a middle way to resolve the stalemate arising out of ULFA?s insistence on having sovereignty as the core issue. Last evening Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and in-charge for Assam, Digvijay Singh held a lengthy discussion with Dr Goswami and Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty at her North Campus House.
It was the endeavour to work out an appropriate response to ULFA?s condition without compromising Government of India?s stand against discussing sovereignty of the nation. Some kind of response more in line with the one adopted in case of negotiations with NSCN was also being examined, sources said.
Sources said that Government of India was yet to make up its mind and it may take a while to formulate a response to Dr Goswami?s appeal. However, sources conceded that the condition put forth on the issue of sovereignty has put the Prime Minister?s Office in a spot.
Yesterday Digvijay Singh was summoned by Prime Minister to discuss Dr Goswami?s proposal. It was impressed upon the Prime Minister that the any initiative to hold talks with ULFA should be undertaken in consultation with the Assam Government. The State Government wants to be on board on the issue, sources said.