Guwahati, March 16: Just when everyone seemed poised to point a finger at Ulfa for attacking a gathering at a Mising tribal festival in Jonai, the outfit blamed forces opposed to it for trying to create misunderstandings among different communities in the state.

Killing innocent people was not its way, Ulfa said in a statement issued by it to deny its role in the Jonai blast.

Police, however, said all indications point towards the involvement of Ulfa. A police officer said it has always been Ulfa’s practice to deny its involvement when innocents were killed.

Ulfa’s denial comes hours after chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa spoke of the outfit’s struggle for all indigenous races, tribes and communities of Assam during an “army day” function.

He reminded his “beloved brothers in arms” about the people’s opposition to “anti-revolutionary activities by revolutionary soldiers” and exhorted them to lead a disciplined life. Admitting that the outfit was affected by the continuous attack, conspiracy and “enemy’s rumours”, he called for a “changed strategy”.

“The masses would be inspired if we could overcome our frailty and advance with renewed discipline,” he said, appealing to the members of the outfit to build up “disciplined resistance”.

Rajkhowa, however, said the deaths of innocent people while fighting the security forces only provides ammunition to the “propaganda machinery” of the government to malign the outfit’s image.

“The most remarkable commitment of army day is, therefore, a change in the strategy of guerrilla warfare against India,” he added.

He justified his organisation’s waging an armed struggle against India despite a large section of intelligentsia speaking of the futility of such a struggle.

Rajkhowa tried to defend Ulfa’s stand: “India has compelled the toiling masses of Asom to engage in a war to restore their rights. Ulfa is ready for talks with India. But India is indifferent to such endeavours. To continue the struggle for the restoration of rights, Assam is compelled to build up a war of resistance. Ulfa needs sovereignty. Not war.”

Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Barua also stressed the need for the outfit’s members to adhere to the chain of command. “The most remarkable issue of a military army is discipline or in other words, abiding by the rules of the chain of command. Indisciplined soldiers can never dedicate themselves or sacrifice their lives for their motherland.”

No sophisticated weapons can make them victorious in war,” Barua said.

In the wake of recent trends of senior Ulfa leaders either surrendering to the security forces with their wives or getting arrested with their spouses, Barua said, “A revolutionary’s life must not be family-oriented.”

Barua also hinted at the outfit’s lack of success in its fight against the security forces.

“One of the mottos of guerrilla warfare is to snatch arms from the enemy and use it against them. However, this is not seen in reality,” he added.