Peace process future to depend on Centre's sincerity: Arabinda
Correspondent, SONARI, Jan 2 - Almost 27 years after his departure from his native village, Rajib Rajkonwar alias Harupai alias Arabinda Rajkhowa, chairman of United Liberation Front of Asom, arrived at his birthplace at Lakwa this afternoon. He was accorded a traditional welcome at his residence.
Addressing a huge gathering this evening at Lakwa Tantia Higher Secondary playground, Rajkhowa sought people's cooperation to solve the problem of Assam and stressed on holding talks with the Government of India with dignity and without any pre-condition from any corner.
"We are not going to disturb the process of talks. The future of the peace process will depend on the sincerity of the Central Government and I appeal to all ethnic groups, organisations and the political parties of Assam to unite this year with a single point agenda of solving the problems of Assam with the active cooperation of the people." He said if time warrants he would again stand before the people to ask whether he would take up arms again to end the long-standing problems. "We will then go to the people and ask for their opinion to solve the problems", said Rajkhowa.
Earlier, upon his arrival at his ancestral house, Rajkhowa was overwhelmed by emotion and paid tributes to his Late father Uma Kanta Rajkonwar, who was a veteran freedom fighter and a social worker. He was in tears when he met his 98-year-old mother Damayanti Rajkonwari who has since lost her eyesight.
Rajkhowa was accompanied by Pradip Gogoi, vice chairman of ULFA, and Diganta Konwar, a member of PCG.
Our Tezpur Correspondent adds: Earlier, various organisations, including AASU, AJYCP, Asom Unnati Sabha, Sahitya Sabha, etc, accorded warm welcome to the ULFA chairman at various places, including Sirajuli, Dhekiajuli and at Swahid Bakori here in Sonitpur, while he was on his way back to his home district Sivasagar after being released from the Guwahati central jail. At Swahid Bakori, addressing the public the ULFA chairman urged the people not to get confused about the peace-process, as he said ULFA would never take any major decision without consent from the people of Assam.
