ULFA calls Assam bandh against PM's poll trip
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Guwahati, March 26 2011: In order to disrupt Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's election campaign in Assam the Paresh Barua faction of ULFA has called a 12-hour bandh on Monday.

In an attempt to prevent the Prime Minister from canvassing support for the Congress in Assam the Paresh Barua-led anti-talks faction of the Ulfa on Saturday announced imposition of a 12-hour Assam bandh on Monday.

Dr Manmohan is scheduled to address a series of public rallies in eastern Assam, once the outfit's breeding ground.

The 12-hour Assam bandh, the ULFA spokesperson Arunodoy Dohotia pointed out, was to protest Mamohan Singh's "failure in keeping his written promise" to discuss all core issues toward settling the Assam-India conflict.

In an e-mailed statement, the Ulfa also accused Manmohan Singh of acquiring his Assam domicile "against the rules" on his way to becoming the prime minister of "colonial India" .

The Ulfa considers Assam to be a sovereign nation that the British wrongfully handed over to New Delhi.

In 1991, former chief minister Hiteswar Saikia had overnight made Singh a resident of Assam and a primary member of the Congress (from central Assam) in order to facilitate the latter's passage to the Rajya Sabha.

Singh has been an Upper House member from Assam since then.

The Ulfa also accused the UPA-II under Manmohan Singh of hatching a conspiracy to divide the outfit.

It was in reference to the peace process the pro-talks group headed by Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa had initiated last month.

"India under Singh has not only divided the Ulfa to destroy the organisation; it has unleashed a plan to divide Assam and make the Assamese community extinct," the Ulfa said, signing off with a call to boycott ministers of "colonial India" and leaders from any political party who come to Assam to "sow the seeds of division among indigenous people of the Northeast to continue their domination" .

Intelligence officials had earlier this week revealed a subversive plan code-named 'Operation Agni' that Ulfa had designed with support of NSCN (K) .

The NSCN(K), based in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar, has reportedly been providing logistic support to the Ulfa for carrying out its threat against Congress leaders, particularly in eastern Assam.

The Ulfa had timed that threat with the PM's visit to Assam last month.

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