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The chairman of the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom Arabinda Rajkhowa on Tuesday said that the outfit was hopeful that the assurance of an 'honourable negotiated solution' to all the burning problems of Assam as given by 'the leadership of the world's largest democracy to the people of a strife-torn Assam ' would be kept in true spirit.
Rajkhowa stated that the ULFA delegation that met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and other top Central government officials in the national capital had a positive impression on the talks so far.
He also stressed on the importance of the people of the state remaining united for the peace process to succeed.
Talking to mediapersons at the Guwahati airport on their return from New Delhi, Rajkhowa said, "Talks with PM as well as P Chidambaram were held in a conducive atmosphere and were satisfactory."
The ULFA delegation had a close to half-an-hour meeting with Dr Singh on Monday at the latter's official residence, while the delegation had met Chidambaram and other home ministry officials in separate meetings on February 10.
Praising the prime minister as a 'polite and learned man', the rebel leader said Dr Singh also had words of appreciation for the ULFA for coming forward for talks in accordance with the wishes of the people of state.
"The prime minister has assured us of an honourable negotiationÂ…..we are hopeful that leadership of the world's largest democracy will keep its assurance to the people of a strife-torn state," Rajkhowa said.
The ULFA delegation pointed to the PM that the outfit had come for talks on the basis of a letter given by Dr Singh on May 25, 2005, stating that the government was ready to negotiate on all core issues and hoped that the government will keep its word.
On the people's role in the talks process, Rajkhowa said the people of Assam must unite behind the agenda for talks and must defeat communal and other forces that may try to disrupt the peace process.
"Talks cannot succeed without people's unity and cooperation," he added.
An eight-member ULFA team, including ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain, 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi, 'deputy c-in-c' Raju Baruah, 'foreign secretary' Sasha Choudhury, 'finance secretary' Chitrabon Hazarika, 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary and 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka, had visited the national capital to initiate formal talks.
Next round of talks are expected in May between the Centre and state governments' appointed representatives and an ULFA team.