NEW DELHI, March 25 — Former Mizoram Governor and senior Rajya Sabha MP Swaraj Kaushal has offered his services to intervene on behalf of imprisoned outlawed ULFA leader Anup Chetia to work out his safe return to Assam.
In an open letter to the general secretary of the outfit currently lodged in Dhaka jail, Sri Kaushal has said, “if you agree I am prepared to intervene on your behalf and take up the matter with Government of India for your safe return to Assam.” Sri Kaushal, who was the moving force behind the singing of the Mizo Accord, said he was distressed by reports that Anup Chetia has sought political asylum in Bangladesh. “As a Member of Parliament and having spent 24 years working for peace in North-east, my conscience demands that I help you in this situation. I see no reason why you should seek asylum in Bangladesh,” he said.
“On hearing from you I will come to Dhaka and meet you in jail if the Bangladesh Govern-mernt accords permission for such a meeting,” he said. The former Mizoram Governor who was also closely involved with the ongoing Naga peace process and was the first interlocutor before Padmanabhiah took over, said he was writing the open letter because he did not have Chetia’s address.
“Don’t you think enough blood has gone down the Brahmaputra and it is time that we open a dialogue for peace. I would like to know if your leadership shares this perception with me,” he has asked. Sri Kaushal has further given his e.mail address (swarajkaushal @hotmail.com).
Significantly, the MP’s name is currently in circulation as Government of India’s political negotiator in the Naga peace process. With the NSCN(I-M) leadership sulking against Padmanabhiah for his controversial interview to the RSS mouthpiece, the Central Government may shortly appoint a new political negotiator.