Thursday's serial blasts in India's northeast are the latest in a wave of attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives across the country in recent months. In the volatile state of Assam 77 people were killed and hundreds injured when at least 13 bombs went off in quick succession. An unknown Muslim group claimed responsibility for the blasts through a text message sent to a news channel. But before even checking the veracity of the claim, security agencies jumped to conclusion that the blasts had the “hallmarks of Muslim militants.” Assam, like Bombay errr..Mumbai, has been split on separatist lines. Many migrant workers, especially from the neighboring state of Bihar, have been killed by the Assamese sons of the soil. Only a few weeks ago, 47 people were killed when indigenous tribes attacked Muslim settlers. The United Liberation Front of Assam has been waging a violent separatist campaign in the state for years . ULFA has,however, denied its hand in Thursday's blasts. It's easy to point fingers at a certain group of people or community and then go on a witch-hunt as it happened after Delhi blasts. The important thing here is to diagnose the malaise. Regional separatist zeal is getting dangerous and violent with every passing day. What's happening in Mumbai and Assam is against the spirit of the Indian Constitution, which says that India is a union of states. The central government has allowed people like Raj Thackery to spit venom and tear the Constitution to pieces. The result is Mumbai, which is the financial hub of the country, has been held to ransom. Migrant workers are being killed and their businesses attacked. This violent, parochial attitude must be dealt with strongly otherwise it will have divisive repercussions all over the country. What happened in Assam may well be a manifestation of revenge against the indigenous people. It must be condemned, but leaders who spread separatism should also be held accountable. __
