Return of Assam refugees will take some time: Sonia

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today said refugees hit by the recent violence in lower Assam will have to wait for some time for the situation to become calmer before returning home.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today said refugees hit by the recent violence in lower Assam will have to wait for some time for the situation to become calmer before returning home.

"Naturally all refugees want to go back home, but this will take some more time till the situation is a little calmer," Gandhi, who was accompanied by union home minister Sushil Shinde and Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, told reporters outside the Titaguri Relief Camp.

"Once feelings are assuaged, the chief minister and others will make sure that they are able to go home," Gandhi said in a brief statement.

Ethnic clashes in Assam have claimed 77 lives.

Gandhi said she asked the refugees whether they were facing any problem in the camp or had any complaints but they they replied they had none.

"The refugees said that they were receiving rations regularly. Only two children were unwell and the doctors will attend to them," Gandhim who arrived here by helicopter from Guwahati, said.

She was accompanied by Assam Pradesh Congress chief Bhubaneswar Kalita, Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Mohilary and state ministers.

Gandhi and Shinde are on a day-long visit to trouble-torn Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts. They will visit two relief camps each in both the districts and review the situation with the chief minister.