GUWAHATI, Nov 28 ? Noted litterateur and Jnanpith Award winner Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami today asserted that hope was still there as far as effecting a dialogue between the banned ULFA and the Government was concerned, and what was needed was a ?subtle and humanist approach? and a helping hand from all concerned.
?I would say the chance of a dialogue between the two is still 50:50. The militants, though agitated, are still desirous of having a talk with the Centre, and that is very important,? Dr Goswami, who has been playing a major role in trying to bring the militants to the negotiating table for the last couple of months, said at a press conference after the Kamal Kumari awards presentation.
Any prospect of bringing the militants to the negotiating table seemed to have hit a roadblock after the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had categorically stated during his recent visit to the State that there could be no discussion on ?sovereignty.? The ULFA, on the other hand, had been insisting that sovereignty must form the core issue of any talks with the Centre.
?The Prime Minister has assured me that he would wipe out tears from the State during his tenure, and I believe his sincerity,? Dr Goswami said. ?I also know the militants well and refuse to brand them as criminals,? she said.
When asked as to how she could hope to bring the two sides with such diametrically opposite stands to the negotiation table, the litterateur said that starting the discussions was the important thing, for which a subtle and humanist approach was needed.
?Talks can be held even on sovereignty. That does not mean that Assam would be granted independence. Anyway, we must give a sympathetic hearing to the grievances of the militants, who too have suffered a lot, ? she reasoned.
PTI adds: Goswami said Assam could not attain sovereignty but the issue must be discussed to bring ULFA to the negotiating table and to know its other demands.
?Sovereignty is not possible but if we do not discuss the issue, the militants will not come forward for talks and we will not know about their other demands?, Goswami said.
The Government can ask the militants as to why they want sovereignty and as the discussions proceed other demands of the ULFA will become transparent and if these can be fulfilled then other issues ?might be compromised?, she said.
The Jnanpith award winner, who has taken the initiative of bringing the ULFA to the negotiating table and had recently submitted an appeal to Prime Minister Mammohan Singh on this, said this was a golden chance to resolve the issue of insurgency in Assam and the Centre should not let it go.
The Prime Minister?s Chief Security Advisor has also shown keen interest in the matter and ?I feel that the government will not back down at this stage?, she said.
Asked about the series of blasts triggered by the ULFA on Thursday last, Goswami said it was in reaction to the Prime Minister's statement that sovereignty could not be discussed.
She had talked to ULFA leaders after the blasts who conveyed that the Prime Minister?s statement indicated that talks could not be held but ?I urged them to restrain the cadres and wait till the Prime Minister replies to the issue of sovereignty mentioned in my appeal to him?, Goswami said.
Holding talks was a very delicate issue and all concerned must proceed in a cautious manner. ''This will take time but I was hopeful that something positive will come out of my efforts to hold talks'', she added.
Asked what made her take up the initiative of bringing the militants for dialogues, she said: ?I have visited several villages in Assam and realised the agonies of the family members of the ULFA cadres?.
It is mainly due to the appeals made by the mothers of militants, including Paresh Barua and Arabinda Rajkhowa, that they want their sons back and this ?made me initiate the process of talks and moreover as a writer I am concerned at heart about them and the state?, Goswami said.
She said ULFA Commander in Chief Paresh Barua was in regular touch with her and had expressed a desire to meet her when she visited Thailand recently. ?'It was, however, not possible as I did not want to embarrass my hosts but I do have a desire to meet him in the near future?.