Guwahati: Jnanapith winner Dr Indira Goswami, popularly called Mamoni Raisom Goswami, today (Oct 25, 2004) said sovereignty must form a part of the core discussions with the banned ULFA for lasting peace in Assam.

Dr Goswami, who will submit an appeal to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh soon on initiating talks with the ULFA (United Liberation front of Assam), told reporters over telephone from New Delhi that the issue of sovereignty must be heard during the talk process to find out a permanent solution to the problem of insurgency.

"The ULFA is fighting for 25 years on the issue of sovereignty. We just cannot ignore it. We have to listen to this aspect at the negotiating table and find out why they are fighting. Whether they get sovereignty or not is a different matter, the whole process must be transparent and we must hold talks with an open mind," Goswami said.

"Violence cannot be tolerated. Insurgency must come to an end in Assam and for this talks must begin," she said.

Asked when she would submit the report to the Prime Minister and what would be its content, Goswami said, "We are trying to fix up an appointment with him and I will announce the contents only after I submit the appeal to him."

Asked whether she is willing to be a mediator for talks with the outfit, she said, "Only if the ULFA wants it. But from my side I cannot say anything at the moment."

Goswami said she had witnessed from very close quarters the devastating effect of insurgency, which has halted the education, development and progress of the State.

"Every year thousands of students flock to Delhi for education from Assam and they face a lot of hardship. Insurgency in the State has adversely affected education and this reflected in the overall progress of the state," she said.

Moreover, the roads are bad and there is practically no development. The people have suffered due to insurgency, which must be resolved as early as possible, the noted litterateur said.

She had recently announced that some top ULFA leaders, including the banned outfit's Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua had contacted her and expressed the desire that she should take the initiative to get the process of dialogue started.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today Goswami had telephoned him and conveyed the outfit's desire for talks and that there was no problem from the Government's side for talks. "But it will be very good if she could bring them to the negotiating table."

He, however, made it clear that the Government's desire for negotiations with the outfit does not mean softening its stand against insurgency. "We will not spare anybody indulging in violence."