Leaders of the pro-talks factions of two prominent insurgent groups of Assam told The Hindu here on Monday that the BJP has won the trust of the State’s youth and former insurgents.
Speaking on the sidelines of the North East Festival here, Arabinda Rajkhowa, Chairman of the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stature is drawing people to the BJP throughout Assam.
“In his campaign speeches, Mr. Modi spoke clearly against illegal migration. People feel that as a strong leader he will fulfil his promises. In both upper and lower Assam, the youth have supported his party whether they are Assamese-speaking or Bodo or Dimasa,” Rajkhowa said in an exclusive interview to The Hindu .
In Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the BJP made a stellar debut in Assam winning seven of the 14 seats. Assamese student organisations have led protests against what they term as “illegal migrants from Bangladesh” for more than three decades.
He said throughout modern Assam’s history “Assamese youth have been at the forefront of defending our identity. The youth will continue to back the BJP if the latter remains sincere to their promise of protecting our Assamese identity from illegal migration.”
Dilip Nunisa — leader of the insurgent group Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) — who also attended a panel discussion here, told The Hindu that his cadre were supporting the BJP. “There is an affinity towards the present government among our cadre and the Dimasa People. We appreciate the projects that have been promised for rural areas,” he said.
