The chairman of the outlawed Ulfa, Arbinda Rajkhowa, on Monday said that they have not surrendered or compromised but want unconditional peace talks for a sustainable solution to the Assam conflict.
Addressing a series of meeting on way to his native village Lukwa in Upper Assam’s Sibsagar district, Mr Rajkhowa said, “It is true that in the last 30 years of armed struggle, we have not been able to liberate even an inch of land but at the same time the Indian government has also failed to annihilate us with all their might.”
Recalling that the way they started their armed struggle from Rang Ghar he said, “We are going to start a new crusade to find political solution to the Assam-India conflict.” Mr Rajkhowa, now 56, and five others had formed the Ulfa on April 7, 1979 at the ramparts of the historic Rang Ghar, a 16th century amphitheatre of the Ahom royalty at Sibsagar.
He also said, “If we fail to find any satisfactory solution to the problem, we will come back to you again for your direction and decide our future course of action.”
He asserted, “The time has come for the people of Assam to fully back the peace process and in every step we want the support and cooperation of the masses.” He reiterated, “We picked up guns for a cause and now there is a chance for a settlement and therefore everyone should help us to achieve something meaningful without compromising on our goal.”
Mr Rajkhowa also confessed that there are people who do not want solution to the armed conflict as it suits their agenda.