Guwahati: 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.
PTI
