Assam: ULFA blames "infighting" in Congress for violence

GUWAHATI: The anti-talk faction of ULFA today blamed "infighting" within the ruling Congress party in Assam for the violence between Bodos and minorities and said people in BTAD area are being made "political scapegoat" for the sake of individual political ambitions of leaders.

In an email to media, ULFA 'Commander-in-Chief' Paresh Baruah said that "power struggle between Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and one of his cabinet colleagues has led to the present situation."

"Nobody is ignorant of the fact that lower Assam is burning due to the factional fight in state Congress party. The power struggle between Tarun Gogoi and one of his junior colleagues has brought a sense of personal and political frustration to the latter.

"This frustration has led to a sense of anger and alienation in his mind," Baruah alleged.

He further alleged that people in the BTAD ( Bodoland Territorial Area Districts) are being made political scapegoats in the process.

Baruah, however, did not identify the Congress minister who is indulged in the factional fight.

The ULFA leader said the violence has harmed the interest of the "greater Assamese society".

He also termed the Bengali-speaking Muslim immigrants from erstwhile East Bengal region as "neo-Assamesse".