GUWAHATI, JANUARY 23 (NNN): The pro-talks faction of banned United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) on Sunday demanded the ouster of the chief of anti-talks faction Paresh Baruah for his decisions on the issue of peace talks, flouting organizational discipline.
“When the whole central committee (of the Ulfa) is meeting to take a final call on the issue of peace process, he (Baruah) is trying to derail the peace process,” pro-talks leader Mrinal Hazarika told journalists. The pro-talks faction’s displeasure stemmed from Baruah’s recent statements that they would not compromise on the issue of sovereignty.
In an email statement issued to the media on Friday, Baruah had reminded that the Ulfa was formed to “fight to re-install our independence”.
“Ulfa is not against political resolution of Indo-Assam political conflict. We are sincere to get our birthright through political dialogue and we are ready to intense our armed liberation struggle as well,” the statement had said.
However, the pro-talks faction maintained that they had been waging a ‘national struggle’ and hence, ‘it doesn’t matter what an individual says since he can’t lead us to our goal’.
Hazarika said the Ulfa’s birth and its demand for sovereignty of Assam were justified when the outfit was born. “Assam had been severely exploited by India. But the circumstances have now changed. In the present context, what the people of Assam are most worried about is infiltration (of illegal Bangladeshi migrants),” he said.
“We must understand that the main problem of Assam today is the identity crisis of the indigenous people”. The pro-talks leader clarified that they had not yet scaled down from the demand of sovereignty while also asserting that greater autonomy could also be an option towards serving the purpose.
“We’ve come forward for the peace process respecting the public mandate. In light of this, if he (Baruah) doesn’t listen to people’s call and indulges in subversive acts along with his cadres, he would be termed a terrorist,” Hazarika added.
“When the whole central committee (of the Ulfa) is meeting to take a final call on the issue of peace process, he (Baruah) is trying to derail the peace process,” pro-talks leader Mrinal Hazarika told journalists. The pro-talks faction’s displeasure stemmed from Baruah’s recent statements that they would not compromise on the issue of sovereignty.
In an email statement issued to the media on Friday, Baruah had reminded that the Ulfa was formed to “fight to re-install our independence”.
“Ulfa is not against political resolution of Indo-Assam political conflict. We are sincere to get our birthright through political dialogue and we are ready to intense our armed liberation struggle as well,” the statement had said.
However, the pro-talks faction maintained that they had been waging a ‘national struggle’ and hence, ‘it doesn’t matter what an individual says since he can’t lead us to our goal’.
Hazarika said the Ulfa’s birth and its demand for sovereignty of Assam were justified when the outfit was born. “Assam had been severely exploited by India. But the circumstances have now changed. In the present context, what the people of Assam are most worried about is infiltration (of illegal Bangladeshi migrants),” he said.
“We must understand that the main problem of Assam today is the identity crisis of the indigenous people”. The pro-talks leader clarified that they had not yet scaled down from the demand of sovereignty while also asserting that greater autonomy could also be an option towards serving the purpose.
“We’ve come forward for the peace process respecting the public mandate. In light of this, if he (Baruah) doesn’t listen to people’s call and indulges in subversive acts along with his cadres, he would be termed a terrorist,” Hazarika added.
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