"You cannot think today's India, today's Assam....and yester-years' Assam." :::::: Post-agreement, ULFA will be "disbanded" .... self-styled 'foreign secretary' Sashadhar says "We have no political ambition"

ULFA's self-styled 'foreign secretary' Sashadhar Choudhury admits "taking help" from neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh and also using numerous fake passports.

"We basically took help from 'lower level' contacts in Myanmar or Bangladesh..Basically they (ULFA commanders and cadres) stayed in jungles..In Bhutan also they stayed in jungles," Choudhury told Republic TV. He admitted having "fake travel documents".

"Yes...fake Indian passport...fake Myanmar passport, fake Bangladeshi passport, fake Brazilian passport...we collected," he said answering questions. 

Narrating his personal tale, Sashadhar Choudhury said, "I was arrested twice ....1986 first ...I was in jail for two and half years. Then I went to Kachinland (in Myanmar)".  

He said the situation has changed a lot between what is it now as against what was then in Assam and at the national level in the 1990s.

"...that situation has come now...at that time we thought it (violence/resistance against India) was the only path. This was the only path to fight for justice. Situation has changed; time has changed. Assam has changed and as a whole India has changed," the former 'foreign secretary' said. 

 

ULFA leaders in 2009: Coming out of Home Ministry 

"You cannot think today's India, today's Assam....and yesteryears' Assam. It's very different...time was different, we had no other ways but to fight for justice," he said. 

He says the organisation (ULFA) will be dismantled and they have no political ambitions. 

He also urged Paresh Barua, who he called his mentor, to come to the negotiations table. 

“He has been my mentor and I think that he will not be upset with our decision; we urge him to come to talk". 

"Today (Dec 29/2023) marks a significant milestone in Assam's journey towards peace and development. This agreement, paves the way for lasting progress in Assam. I commend the efforts of all involved in this landmark achievement. Together, we move towards a future of unity, growth, and prosperity for all," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.  

"A historic day for Assam. Fulfilling PM @narendramodi Ji's vision for a prosperous, peaceful and developed Northeast, today we have arrived at a landmark resolution to the ULFA insurgency problem of Assam.

The Government of India and the Government of Assam have signed a memorandum of settlement with the oldest insurgent group of the state ULFA. The insurgent group has agreed to abjure the path of violence, surrender all arms and ammunition, join the peaceful democratic process as established by the law and uphold the integrity of the country," Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on X.