by Bhupen Goswami

GUWAHATI : Assam’s Tea Tribes Welfare Minister and Tinsukia BJP MLA Sanjay Kishan publicly apologised for his remarks against Paresh Barua, commander-in-chief of the United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I). He apologised after receiving threats from the terrorist organisation following his statement. “I am sorry if I have hurt the sentiments of ULFA-I chief Paresh Barua with my statement.

 I didn’t mean to hurt him. I was worried about the youth joining the banned militant outfit. He also said he was in favour of a peace deal with ulfa-i.Notably, earlier on Friday, the minister had reacted to ulfa-I’s decision to award death sentence to two youths for allegedly being a state police agent and for the death of Biju Gogoi, who, according to the organisation, had committed suicide and said Paresh Baruah was a ‘liar’. Following his statement, the militant outfit had demanded an apology from the minister within 24 hours or else ULFA-I would ban him in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. The ULFA had warned that “if Kishan does not apologise within 24 hours, he will be declared banned in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts”. No one should attend any of Kishan’s programmes. ULFA (I) will not be responsible for the consequences of those supporting Kishan’s face,” . The organisation warned that any person who would support the minister or attend his programmes would face dire consequences for which “ULFA-I will not be responsible”.