While the ULFA has slammed all the doors at a negotiated settlement, eminent freedom fighter and father of ULFA chairman Uma Rajkonwar, who on January 11 turned 100, vehemently opposed the banned organisation’s demand for a sovereign Assam and is in favour of negotiation.

Uma Rajkonwar is a name that evokes respect in Assam — just as much as his son’s name is reviled here. The father has been a freedom fighter for the country. The son has been fighting for ‘freedom’ from the country. The former led a movement that was backed by the entire nation. The latter has the backing of only a handful of militants called the ULFA of which he is the head.

On January 11, Uma Rajkonwar turned 100. A grand public reception was held in his honour at his hometown in Sibsagar district as a fitting tribute to his services to the nation.Uma Rajkonwar was the chief of the nine units of ‘Shanti Vahini’ during the ‘Quit India’ Movement in 1942. He was sent to jail during the freedom struggle for his activities.

Uma Rajkonwar is vehemently opposed to the ULFA’s demand of sovereignty for Assam. He said: "The ULFA should start negotiating with the government as early as possible. The people of Assam are clamouring for peace and only a dialogue between both the sides can bring an end to this 20-year old violence in the State."Reflecting on his son’s activities the elder Rajkonwar said: "I had always persuaded him to shun the path of violence, but he remained adamant."I strongly believe that some of the issues raised by the ULFA are valid. But violence can never be the way to resolving those issues. That is what sets us apart from each other," he added.