From our Correspondent

SIVASAGAR, July 6: “ULFA, by no means, was involved in the Janjimukh Bhakat gaon incident on July 3 last, where an army personnel was severely beaten up by villagers. Instead, we rescued him from the clutches of the irate villagers, who were ready to kill him for his uncivilized behaviour,” said ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa in Sivasagar today.

Addressing a press conference at Rongpur Jyoti Club in Sivasagar on Friday, Rajkhowa clarified his stand on the issue and said that they visited the flood-affected areas to take stock of the situation. He said that the youth who was under intoxication, used vulgar language while interacting with the villagers and got involved in a brawl. “It was the villagers not us, who turned violent and beat him severely,” said Rajkhowa adding that if they were really guilty, they would have certainly apologized for the incident.

Speaking about their recent visit to flood torn Majuli, Rajkhowa said that the government was not concerned about the plight of flood-affected people of Majuli. “ The government’s lack of enthusiasm to work for the people was visible since there is not a single embankment in Majuli that lasted for a year, said the ULFA chairman.

He further said that had the government been interested, there would have been concrete embankments with the Rs 33,000 crore which the State had received from the Centre since 1982, in the name of tackling flood fury.  

Expressing concern over the government’s move to shift the villagers from Jonai to Sadiya, Rajkhowa said that those people had been set up at Jonai by the government itself in 1950. Rajkhowa also demanded the government to ensure their permanent rehabilitation.

Speaking on ULFA-Centre peace talks, Rajkhowa said that they discussed several pertinent problems confronting Assam in New Delhi.

Terming the talks as fruitful, Rajkhowa said that they would continue with their endeavour to bring permanent peace in Assam.“We have also raised the issue of illegal immigration, constitutional safeguard to the indigenous people of Assam and permanent solution to the flood problem,” the ULFA chairman said.

Rajkhowa, was accompanied by Arpan Saikia and Bhaity Baruah at the press conference.