Aiyar speaks for Assam as Aasu, Ulfa battle it out
Union sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar in Guwahati said the National Games would be and should be held according to schedule, even as the All Assam Students Union (Aasu) and Ulfa are engaged in a war of words.
By TNN |
GUWAHATI: Union sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar in Guwahati said the National Games would be and should be held according to schedule, even as the All Assam Students Union (Aasu) and Ulfa are engaged in a war of words.
The minister's statement is significant as it comes on the heels of some states expressing apprehension over sending their teams to Assam, given the spurt in extremist violence in Guwahati.
The state is due to host the 33rd National Games next month.
On Wednesday, Ulfa had struck again in Guwahati, killing two persons and injuring at least 26 others, including two women, with a bomb blast. The incident was the fourth of its kind in the city this month and people blocked a road to protest against the violence.
On Thursday, Aasu came down heavily on the Ulfa leadership for calling the student union a "government agent." Ulfa commander in chief Paresh Baruah had criticised Aasu while speaking to a local newspaper. Mr Baruah said the Aasu leader and some intellectuals were acting as agents of the Centre "at a time when Ulfa was fighting for Assam's sovereignty."
Aasu advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said: "Without taking up arms, Aasu is an organisation that has been tirelessly fighting from the soil of Assam with the cooperation of the people for their and the state's survival."
He asked why Ulfa had not commented on ISI, al-Qaeda, jehadi elements and the 14 fundamentalist outfits operating in Assam. "Sovereign Assam" was not Aasu's demand. "So naturally, Ulfa and Aasu can never have the same views," Mr Bhattacharya added.
The minister's statement is significant as it comes on the heels of some states expressing apprehension over sending their teams to Assam, given the spurt in extremist violence in Guwahati.
The state is due to host the 33rd National Games next month.
On Wednesday, Ulfa had struck again in Guwahati, killing two persons and injuring at least 26 others, including two women, with a bomb blast. The incident was the fourth of its kind in the city this month and people blocked a road to protest against the violence.
On Thursday, Aasu came down heavily on the Ulfa leadership for calling the student union a "government agent." Ulfa commander in chief Paresh Baruah had criticised Aasu while speaking to a local newspaper. Mr Baruah said the Aasu leader and some intellectuals were acting as agents of the Centre "at a time when Ulfa was fighting for Assam's sovereignty."
Aasu advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said: "Without taking up arms, Aasu is an organisation that has been tirelessly fighting from the soil of Assam with the cooperation of the people for their and the state's survival."
ADVERTISEMENT
He asked why Ulfa had not commented on ISI, al-Qaeda, jehadi elements and the 14 fundamentalist outfits operating in Assam. "Sovereign Assam" was not Aasu's demand. "So naturally, Ulfa and Aasu can never have the same views," Mr Bhattacharya added.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
