We were not involved in 'BJP office Gherao' Programme in Guwahati: Pro talk ULFA leaders

Guwahati: Assam Police summoned Pro-talk ULFA leaders on Saturday under suspicion for their alleged involvement in ‘BJP office Gherao’ incident at Hengrabari party office in Guwahati on January 6, 2019.

The summon notice was issued to ULFA leaders Mrinal Hazarika and Anup Chetia.

Speaking before the media, Pro-talk ULFA leader claimed that they not guilty. They further alleged the incident to be a conspiracy by the Government of Assam.

Anup Chetia said, “Hundreds of women for KMSS on January 6 morning gheraoed the BJP office at Hengerabari in Guwahati. In fact, few of them also entered our Guwahati office while coming back from the 'BJP office gherao' programme to use our office bathroom. Both Mrinal Hazarika and I were in the office during that time. We don’t even recognize some of them, they came from Chabua. Out of all the women, we knew only three of them. They hail from CM Sarbananda Sonowal’s village in Chabua. We on the humanitarian ground tried to help them; however, the matter took a U-turn after they went back. They might claim that we were involved in the BJP office Gherao programme, but we were not involved. We also gave the same statement in writing to Dispur Police today.”

It may be mentioned that the women who visited our office came in a bus; moreover, the bus was parked nearby the pro-talk ULFA office in Guwahati. “Might be due to this, we are under suspicion,” added Anup Chetia.

According to sources, the women were members of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS). The group of women along with 70 other indigenous organizations shouted slogan against Prime Minister, Narendra Modi led NDA government at the Centre for their decision to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the ongoing session of the parliament session.

The group of women also condemned the stand taken by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on the issue.

Meanwhile, upon informing about the activities in front of the BJP office, police immediately reached the spot and are controlling the situation and preventing the agitating crowd to take any violent step.

It may be mentioned that the protests erupted across the State after PM Narendra Modi on Friday announced in BJP rally in Silchar rally that the Centre’s decision of moving forward with the much-debated Bill.

On the other hand, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) along with NEDA had called for a Northeast bandh on January 8 in protest against the Centre’s decision on the much-debated Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.