GUWAHATI, Feb 18 (PTI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the recent discussion with the ULFA leadership in New Delhi was a "good beginning" and gave him hope for the future of Assam and the northeast.
"I was happy to meet representatives of the ULFA recently in New Delhi. The discussion was a good beginning and has given me hope for Assam and North East," he said after presenting the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial awards for 2008 and 2009 at the Pragjyoti ITA auditorium here.
Singh said he firmly believed that dialogue was the only method for fostering greater understanding and resolving vexed social, political and economic problems.
The top ULFA leadership, led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa had called on the prime minister on February 14 after meeting Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and holding the preliminary round of talks with Union Home Secretary G K Pillai on February 10.
