Come, join politics: Gogoi tells ULFA rebel Paresh Barua

He said this in response to a statement issued by the break-away ULFA anti-talk faction leader demanding a plebiscite on their demand for a “sovereign” state.

Dismissing Barua’s demand for a plebiscite on the “sovereignty” issue, chief minister Gogoi said 99 per cent people of Assam do not support Barua and his ULFA.

“Ninety-nine percent people do not support ULFA and Paresh Barua. There will be hardly one per cent or few people who support Barua’s unrealistic dreams and demands,” Gogoi said.

He cited the heavy turn-out of voters in successive elections in the state and said the voter turn-out was enough to prove that the people do not support ULFA. “That more than 70 percent people have been casting their votes in different elections in the past several occasions is enough to prove that the people of Assam trust and confide in the Constitution of India and not in the ULFA’s demand or ideology,” Gogoi said.

ULFA break-away faction leader Paresh Barua had in an interview with a local newspaper on Wednesday said that while countries like Britain and Canada could go for a plebiscite, the government of India was scared of doing so.

Meanwhile the army, in a joint operation with Meghalaya Police, apprehended six cadres of the ULFA faction headed by Paresh Barua late last evening. Defence PRO Lt Col Suneet Newton in a statement informed that the ULFA(I) cadres were apprehended from Pedaldoba in West Garo Hills district. Six pistols were also recovered from their possession, he said.