Wednesday, October 5 2005 13:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi may participate in the proposed talks between ULFA-appointed People's Consultative Group (PCG) and the Centre to be held later this month, Jnanpith award winning author Indira Goswami said here today (Oct 05, 2004).

"I requested MK Narayanan to include the Chief Minister in the talks and he agreed to it. Gogoi's presence will be important," Goswami, who has been mediating between the banned outfit and the government, told sources here.

However, Goswami said, the decision to participate in the talks has to be taken by the Assam Chief Minister.

On whether the Centre would consider ceasefire agreement with the outfit, she said, all the issues would be discussed during the talks.

Goswami also said Congress leader Veerappa Moily had called her up last evening and congratulated her for the "significant breakthrough." The former Karnataka Chief Minister has been playing a behind-the-scenes role in the peace initiative.

Sources close to peace process said Moily had requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to take steps in bringing ULFA to the negotiating table.

The Centre had decided yesterday to hold talks with the PCG on October 25 or 26 or on both days.

The decision was taken at a meeting between Indira Goswami and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan last evening, which was also attended by Rebati Phukan, one of the eleven members of the PCG nominated by the banned outfit to prepare the ground for direct peace talks with the Centre.