[Assam] ULFA no longer a force to be reckoned with, IB tells Centre - Sentinel

[Ram Sarangapani]

Hi Uttam,

Almora looks beautiful - even from here. btw. There is also an Almora in
Illinois. Glad you could join us.

>As in the case of Armed Rebellion being obsolete, do we have anything to
discuss if ULFA is not a force to be reckoned with? Why the heck >are we
discussing it at all? Why is Sentinel discussing it?

I understand the feeling. It is not whether the Sentinel, you or I are
discussing the issue - it is the Center, who does not want to be a part of
the discussion. The move, I think, is strategic for the Center - it
obviously feels it can relegate the whole issue as a law & order, have the
State Govt. deal with the insurgents etc, and the Center can then deal with
the issue more as an *arbitrator*, as opposed to becoming a party to any
discussions.

>Why is Sentinel discussing it? Why some people came to a conference for
discussion for solving it through discussion? Why do I see
>it on TV always that these leaders, some lawyers, the policeman, some
politician saying something or the other  on ULFA and this problem?

The news item is* NOT* saying that the State also will not have discussions.
Of course, there will be interested parties who want discussions, and of
course, there is public interest, it is just that the Center is now
*re-defining
its role*, a different role, if you will.

>He asked me whether it was visible to me that north Indian business
communities are beginning to squeeze the Assamese with
>sheer money power and political clouts from the heart of Guwahati City.....
when ULFA was strong they were no where to be seen.

Really? We have always known Marwari businesses as the life-blood of Assam's
business and industry. I suppose your friend may have just seen this. And
businesses also hold a sway on the local politics.

And as far as "when the ULFA was strong..... they were no where to be
seen"... that statement says a lot.

Why were they not seen? Were they scared to death, that the ULFA would
threaten, loot, send demand letters, kidnap, or murder them?

Everywhere, when there are criminals and terrorists running loose, sane
people lie low.  I am not sure, if this is something to be elated about.
Every, strong, well-run, self-respecting Assamese owned buisiness will tell
you, that they love the competition from these "North Indians" and this is
good for business. And Assam is STILL run by Assamese. On the one hand, one
hears, everyone and their uncle in Assam want the likes of Infosys,
Mahindras etc open up business centers in Assam, and then there is this
"fear". What gives?

I really wonder, how this friend of yours feels about illegal Bangaldeshis
coming in droves into Assam, and quite posssibly turning Assamese into a
non-viable minority?


>the sense of alienation has not vanished as yet. And such sense may not
always have rational results.

I believe that part is true. Yes, that feeling exists. A lot of the reasons
(in the past) were true. The "step-mother' syndrome, and so on. Today, we
keep reading, of high corruption, of funds from the Center being returned
back without being spent or fully spent like clock work, and financial,
budget data, still years behind. Civic, and important infrastructure in
sheer chaos. And yet, the reigns of power in the state are still in Assamese
hands.

The Center also seems to pay a lot more attention to the state. The other
day, PC. Chidambaram was quoted as saying that MPs and legislators from
other states make it a point to visit Assam and other NE States, to
understand the inequities, aspirations, and feelings of the people in the
region.

And yet, there will always find someone else to blame - well, this time it
is the 'North Indian businesses'.


--Ram da











On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 9:39 AM, UTTAM BORTHAKUR
<uttamborthakur at yahoo.co.in>wrote:

> Dear Ram Da:
>
> As in the case of Armed Rebellion being obsolete, do we have anything to
> discuss if ULFA is not a force to be reckoned with? Why the heck are we
> discussing it at all? Why is Sentinel discussing it? Why some people came
> to
> a conference for discussion for solving it through discussion? Why do I see
> it on TV always that these leaders, some lawyers, the policeman, some
> politician saying something or the other  on ULFA and this problem?
>
> That day a doctor met me in an eatery. I have not heard anything about
> his political connections. He asked me whether it was visible to me that
> north Indian business communities are beginning to squeeze the Assamese
> with
> sheer money power and political clouts from the heart of Guwahati City.....
> when ULFA was strong they were no where to be seen... and he confided that
> we are yet to see the last of the ULFA or its variants  even if the present
> ULFA leadership capitulates. Pointing to his heart, he said, " Something is
> there you know, it is not so simple...."
>
> You may be knowing better. Though I do not support ULFA, and I do not
> belive
> that any good will come out of their acts so far, but I do not believe that
> Assamese or the north east peoples have no reason to feel alienated.....
> whether you like it or not, the sense of alienation has not vanished as
> yet.
> And such sense may not always have rational results.
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>