ULFA calls for Assam Bandh to protest PM’s visit on April 02
: Guwahati, March 31, 2011
In a press release sent by Arunudoy Dahotiya, publicity in charge of the Paresh Baruah section of the ULFA, the outfit has called for a twelve hour long Assam Bandh on 2nd of April to protest against Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to the state. However all emergency services has been allowed to continue with their work as usual during the Bandh, the press release stated. Criticizing the Prime Minister for not keeping his words, the outfit further accused that the head of the country visits the state time to time as a propaganda to impart further colonialism in Assam and create rift between the different indigenous tribes and communities of the people.
The ULFA had earlier called for the Bandh on 28th March to protest against Prime Minister’s earlier plan to visit Assam to campaign for the state congress in coming elections and had accused that the Prime Minister had not kept his word to the people of Assam of discussing all issues with the ULFA to bring a solution to Assam’s burning problems through lateral talks with the outfit. However, the strike was called off and postponed by the outfit after the news of the Prime Minister’s visit getting canceled. However the Ministry was quick to declare that Manmohan Singh’s visit was not canceled due to fear of ULFA’s strike during this visit, but because of certain other urgent tasks.
The Bandh called by the outfit has made the security agencies to be on high alert during the period. The Paresh Baruah fraction of the ULFA has already attacked the Congress Headquarters in Guwahati recently to warn the party and is expected to create other mishaps during the election period. On the other hand, the pro-talk leaders of the ULFA led by its Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, who had recently met the Prime Minister at Delhi to initiate the process of lateral talks with the Government of India, has not commented on the Assam Bandh. It would be worth mentioning that the pro-talk fraction of ULFA had recently decided in their council meeting in Sivasagar to keep a neutral position during the coming state elections.
