Assam minister Biswajit Daimary has sparked a row after he praised the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), saying the banned group “protected the state from outside forces for over five decades”.
He said the minister was referring to the ULFA faction that entered into peace negotiations with the government and later signed an agreement. “Daimary told me that he was referring to the ULFA faction led by Anup Chetia, which came forward for talks and signed an agreement with the government. Daimary’s remarks came during an event in Tinsukia’s Kakopathar on Tuesday, and compelled Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to step in to clarify that the sports and youth welfare minister was referring to the faction led by Anup Chetia and not the banned ULFA (Independent) headed by Paresh Baruah. Speaking to reporters in Tinsukia on Thursday, Sarma said he had spoken to Daimary after the remarks became a subject of discussion.
He was not referring to Paresh Baruah’s ULFA (Independent), which remains a banned organisation,” Sarma said. Assam’s Mahila Congress president Meera Borthakur Goswami said she has written to Union Minister Amit Shah, raising concerns over Daimary’s comments about an organisation that has faced a ban under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
He said although some people may criticise ULFA, “no force could do anything to destabilise Assam only because of the underground organisation”.
