Guwahati, Nov. 4: The Birsa Commando Force (BCF) has warned the ruling Congress that it would work against the party in the 2011 Assembly elections if it was not included in the peace process at the earliest.

The outfit’s warning has come in the wake of the Centre’s proposal to hold talks with three militant outfits of the Northeast.

The group’s commander-in-chief Birsing Munda told The Telegraph today that they were at a loss over New Delhi’s policy to exclude the outfit which had been in ceasefire and instead hold talks with the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel), NDFB (pro-talks) and United People’s Democratic Solidarity.

Home minister P. Chidambaram said on Friday that Delhi would hold talks with the three outfits in consultation with Dispur and that former Intelligence Bureau chief P.C. Haldar had been appointed the interlocutor.

“The government, it seems, is not bothered about our grievances. We have been requesting for tripartite talks for long. We came overground according to the government’s wish and have maintained peace. But what have we got in return? Talks are being held with other groups and we and the Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam, which is also in ceasefire, have been ignored. We have written to the authorities to upgrade our talks to a tripartite one,” Munda said.

“We request the government to start tripartite talks at the earliest. But at the same time we want to make it very clear that if our requests go unheeded, we will stand against the ruling Congress in the 2011 Assembly elections. The Adivasis cannot be ignored just like that. We were formed to fight for the aspirations of our community and will continue to do so,” he said.

An intelligence report had revealed that the Adivasi groups had been aiding the Santhali Tiger Force, which is why Delhi has not shown much interest to hold talks with them.

“We have nothing to do with the Santhali Tiger Force. These are only attempts to malign the two groups,” Munda clarified.

The demands of the outfit comprise creation of a satellite autonomous council for the Adivasis, Scheduled Tribes status and adequate security, among others.

The outfit claims that the Adivasi population is around 70 lakh, which plays a crucial role in electoral politics.

Assam already has six satellite autonomous councils to meet the growing demands for self-rule — Rabha-Hasong, Mising, Tiwa, Sonowal-Kachari, Thengal-Kachari and Deuri councils.

Xavrias Khakha, the chairman of the Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam, formed on July 7, 1996, and which declared ceasefire on September 15, 2001, also pressed for tripartite talks.

“We have had talks with Dispur recently and have requested for tripartite talks. We will hold a meeting soon to decide our course of action if our demand is not met,” Khakha said.