Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
Guwahati, April 19 2010:
Self-styled ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua on Monday questioned the efforts of an Assam intellectuals committee to find a solution to the insurgency problem by giving up the demand for an independent State.
"How can sovereignty be achieved without an independent Assam? We will not give up our aims, ideals, aspirations and demands, but a referendum should be held on the issue of sovereignty," Barua said in an email to the media.
He claimed that the committee formed by a section of intellectuals to facilitate talks between the outfit and the Centre had failed to stand by the common man when the state was passing through a crucial phase.
Barua, whose nod was claimed to have been taken in the formation of a committee, alleged that the majority of intellectuals lacked commitment and responsibility and he was not "happy with the progress in the talks process so far" .
Sahitya Akademi award-winning litterateur Hiren Gohain, who led the committee, had claimed that there was no difference of opinion between Barua and jailed ULFA leaders, including its Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, on talks for a negotiated solution to Assam's problems.
The Committee comprised former talks facilitator and noted litterateur Indira (Mamoni) Raisom Goswami, former Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) members Lachit Bordoloi and Dilip Patgiri and former director general of police and Sahitya Akademi award winner Harekrishna Deka among others.
Earlier in 2005, the PCG was formed by the ULFA to facilitate talks for a negotiated settlement with the Centre, but later its members resigned as the talks process did not progress after two rounds of dialogue with the Centre.