Ulfa warns Hindu group against calling for boycott of Chinese goods

The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (Ulfa-I) has asked a Hindu youth group to stop its campaign for boycotting Chinese goods.

The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (Ulfa-I) has asked a Hindu youth group to stop its campaign for boycotting Chinese goods.

Paresh Barua, the leader of the ULFA-Indenpendent faction, has virtually been offered asylum by China, an intelligence officer said. (PTI File Photo)

In an emailed statement on Monday, the outfit’s publicity secretary Arunodoy Asom said consumers in Assam have the right to procure goods at the cheapest rate that Beijing offers.

“Besides, neighbour China has had age-old friendly relations with Assam and provides a sustainable alternative to Indian traders who have only profit in mind,” the statement said.

The outfit’s mail was in response to a call by Hindu Yuba Chhatra Parishad’s Assam unit leaders Bolin Baishya and Dipankar Gohain to refrain from buying Chinese goods. This, they said, would hit Beijing where it hurts most.

Central intelligence officials in Assam said Ulfa-I’s pro-China appeal was not unusual. “China has virtually offered asylum to Paresh Barua, the outfit’s fugitive military chief. He is known to operate from the Ruili area of China, bordering Myanmar, and is an arms agent for Chinese firm Norinco,” a senior officer said.