The United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), or ULFA(I), a banned militant group led by Paresh Baruah, has issued a stern warning against the planned celebration of “Bihar Diwas” in Tinsukia, Assam, scheduled for March 22, 2025. The group has demanded the event’s cancellation, labelling it an “attack on the culture, heritage, and pride of the Indigenous people” of Assam. ULFA(I) has threatened “dire consequences” if the program proceeds, arguing that it undermines the identity of local communities.

The event, reportedly organized under the patronage of BJP MLAs Suren Phukan and Sanjoy Kishan, has also faced opposition from other regional groups, including the Raijor Dal party. Critics, such as Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, have questioned the relevance of celebrating Bihar Diwas in Assam, pointing out that Assam’s own cultural days are not similarly observed in Bihar. They accuse the BJP of pushing the event as part of its vote-bank politics, given Tinsukia’s significant Hindi-speaking population, many of whom trace their roots to Bihar and Jharkhand.

In response, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has defended the celebration, framing it as a gesture of national unity under the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” initiative. He noted that Assam Diwas is celebrated in various states across India and suggested that reciprocal events like Bihar Diwas foster mutual understanding. However, amid mounting protests from ULFA(I), regional parties, and Indigenous groups, the Assam BJP cancelled the Tinsukia event on March 20, 2025, to avoid escalating tensions, though plans remain to hold it elsewhere in the state.

The controversy highlights deeper cultural and political fault lines in Assam, where ULFA(I) has historically opposed perceived “outsider” influence, often targeting Hindi-speaking communities as symbols of “Indian occupation.” Tinsukia, a commercial hub in eastern Assam, is a BJP stronghold with a diverse population, making it a flashpoint for such disputes.

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