[Assam] Assam must bury VarnaSankara and Class ideation and should leave religion as a private pursuit and encourage public philosophical discussions and debate. NO religion must become a political tool.

[Bartta Bistar]

*Guwahati, Friday, October 13, 2006*
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*ULFA cautions against casteist chauvinism*

*http://www.assamtribune.com/
*By A Staff Reporter
 GUWAHATI, Oct 12 – The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today
cautioned the people of the State against the danger of casteist chauvinism
of a section of the Assamese speaking elites. This has afflicted the society
of the State in a devastating manner, alienated many of the ethnic groups
and finally led to the dismembering of the State into pieces, said the
militant outfit in a statement signed by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and
e-mailed to the newspaper offices.

It has also claimed that the neo-Vaishnavism preached by Srimanta
Sankaradeva had made the demand for an independent Asom more logical for
keeping alive the unique heritage of the State's people.

It has denounced the attempt of some of the Assamese elites to provoke the
followers of Srimanta Sankaradeva against it with the plea that the outfit
had gone against the very essence of Vaishnaivism by preaching secessionism
as a harmful fundamentalist approach.

The materialist approach towards history proves that Asom was never a part
of India. It had only matrimonial and other friendly relations with the
Indian kings. Even Emperor Ashoka, who is known for his expansionist
activities, did not annex Asom to his empire. Even Harshavardhan also
maintained a friendly relation with Kumar Bhaskar Barma of Kamrupa, it said.

It has also sought to refute the claim of certain quarters that being a
Hindu dominated State, Asom should not opt out of the Indian union with the
arguments that it was not a fact that every member of the Assamese society
was a Hindu. Moreover, even if the entire lots of the Assamese-speaking
people were found to be Hindu, it would be a blunder to ask them to live in
a single state system.

India is not the only Hindu country. Nepal being another Hindu country is
maintaining its separate identity. Moreover, it is also a fact that the
Christians, Buddhists and Muslims also live in separate countries. Even the
people of the same origin like the British and Australians, also live in
separate countries, it said.
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