Mahantas Tough Line Prompted Ulfa Attack

The bold, anti-Ulfa stand adopted by Assam Chief Minister P K Mahanta after coming to power in May 1996 is mainly responsible for Sundays attack on his convoy between the Borjhar airport and Dispur. It was perhaps the first confirmed attack by the Ulfa against any AGP leader.

Perceptions and mindsets have changed since the time when the AGP was alleged to be soft on the secessionist Ulfa. In fact, Mahantas earlier tenure in office was cut short when the Centre dismissed his ministry and imposed Presidents rule in November 1990 on the ground that it had failed to tackle Ulfas activities.

This time, Mahanta has been deprived of the convenient, Centre-against-Assam excuse since the AGP is part of the United Front government, and considerable attention has been paid to the region, by the two Prime Ministers, H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral. It was clear that Mahanta could not afford to take a line that was different from the United Fronts.

Quite a few were surprised when Mahanta agreed to the tough line suggested by the security forces against Ulfa in 1996. Not only did he agree to the unified command structure of security forces formulated by the Union home ministry, he has been candid on why he has not fulfilled his election promise to withdraw the army. The army will stay as long as there is violence, he is reported to have said.

If there have been significant changes in how Mahanta views the Centre today, the ULFA too has witnessed depletions within its ranks and dilution of its ideological appeal since 1990.

Several trained members have surrendered, while among those who remain at large, there is a clear division on the issue of entering into negotiations with the Indian state.

Mahanta has been in the forefront of the states efforts to get the Ulfa to the negotiating table. In a state where Delhi, India and the Centre are viewed with a little suspicion and hatred, Mahanta has been subjected to charges that he has become too much of a Centres man.

Mahantas close aides, however, say that he is now clear that things cannot be allowed to drift for long, and deprive the state of the fruits of development affected severely by the endless rounds of violence unleashed by militants of various hues. His bold, anti-Ulfa stand should be seen in this light, they say.