Bangladesh encouraging jehadis: Gogoi

Assam Chief Minister Tarrun Gogoi has said neighbouring countries, particularly Bangladesh, are encouraging insurgency and jehadi activities in the state, where a “third force” with suspected N1axalite links is behind the growing Adivasi uprising. On the see-saw peace process with the ULFA, the Chief Minister expressed his Government’s readiness to hold talks with the insurgents provided they drop the sovereignty condition. “We are not putting up conditions. It is the ULFA which is placing conditions. We are ready for talks within the framework of the Constitution,” he said on Wednesday.

Talking about the growing jehadi activities in the region, Gogoi, in an interview, said, “Countries surrounding Assam are encouraging all sorts of activities. Even jehadis are there. I don’t say the countries are directly involved. But elements are there with which they are not dealing firmly.”

“They (countries) are not flushing out these elements. Even the Centre has not received the kind of response expected from the neighbouring countries, particularly Bangladesh, I can say.These problems will persist if these countries give shelter to the ultras. It is very difficult to root them out as their bases are there,” Gogoi said. On whether a “third force” was behind the growing Adivasi uprise in the state, Gogoi said, “Definitely there is. I do suspect the Naxalites from Jharkhand even though I don’t have concrete proof.”