source: http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southasia.asp?parentid =37055
INDIA: Now, ULFA guns for 'Sa Re Ga Ma'
Militant group based in northeast Indian state of Assam threatens television network to ensure success of Assamese contestant on popular TV show
Times of India
Friday, January 13, 2006
By Kunal M Shah
Mumbai --- A group claiming to be the militant United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) recently called the brand manager of the Zee TV show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge to ensure that an Assamese contestant, Debojit, was not eliminated.
Ashish Golwalkar, the brand manager of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge , said, "I was in Ahmedabad when I got the phone. I felt as if the man calling me was on a speaker phone since I could hear a group of 8-10 people in the background. He was not fluent in either Hindi or English. He first said that he was calling me from the Debojit fan club and accused us of being partial against him. When I tried to reason with him, he threatened me, saying he was the commander of the ULFA.
"He then sad we were deliberately trying to put down Debojit . He even said that the Zee TV server was creating problems, which he had checked out. I tried to explain to him that there was no partiality involved and I tried to cut the conversation short.
"However, these people kept calling me and saying there was a conspiracy against Debojit. I was terrified, and I avoided the calls since I was busy myself. I think these people must be fanatic fans or they may have really been from the ULFA. I have no clue but the entire experience was very scary. My name comes in the credit lines, but I still don't understand how they managed to get my number. I called the producer of the show Gajendra Singh and informed him."
The Sa Re Ga Ma Challenge is a singing competition aired on Zee TV every Thursday and Friday. It began with 32 contestants and is now down to four -- Debojit, Hemchandra, Vinit and Himani. Eliminations are based on public votes.
Gowalikar said, "We will obviously not give in to such tactics. At the end of the day, the show is more important than anything else."
When contacted, Gajendra Singh said, "This is the tenth year of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and we have maintained certain standards. These kind of incidents happen, but I guess these groups should understand that this is a talent show and no political party or organisation is involved."
The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is a violent organisation that wants to establish Assam as a separate country, independent of India, while also establishing a socialist government to rule the "Assam country".
The group was formed on April 7, 1979 and has since waged an armed conflict against the Indian state The ULFA has a clearly partitioned political and military wing ULFA's membership is predominantly from the Assam region, specifically the northern districts.
There are other insurgent groups too that have a stronger membership base in the southern areas of Assam. The ULFA has forged working relationships with some of the other insurgent groups in the region.
Pushpa Impossible
