Banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), which is waging an armed conflict against Indian security forces demanding 'restoration of sovereignty for the people of Assam', called upon sportspersons to stay away from the National Games to be held in Guwahati in February next year.

In a statement issued on Saturday, ULFA chairman Arobinda Rajkhowa stated that, "with due respect to all the sportspersons willing to participate in the next Indian National Games held in Assam, the ULFA request all of them to skip the same for the sake of their own security."

The ULFA leader stated that the militant group opposed holding of the National Games in the state sans the solution to the continuing 'India-Assam' conflict. He stated that holding of National Games by 'colonial Indian rulers' in Assam amounts to insulting the freedom aspiring people of the state.

"The colonial Indian rulers who have let loose a reign of terror and oppression on the people of Assam have no right to hold Indian National Games in the occupied state ignoring the voice of protest of people of Assam," the statement said.

Meanwhile, preparations for the National Games are going on in full swing in the state with final touches being given to the stadium and the Games village being constructed in and around Guwahati city.

A senior police official in Guwahati termed it as another ploy by the banned militant group to hog the headlines.