Jeraigaon (Assam): NDA convenor George Fernandes yesterday (Jan10, 2007) volunteered to act as a facilitator and constitute a committee to bring the ULFA to the negotiating table to establish peace in Assam.

Fernandes said he would personally meet Prime Minister Manhoman Singh to ensure that negotiations take place.

The former defence minister, touring areas where the ULFA killed 70 migrant workers, told reporters here after meeting Milliki Baruah, the mother of ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, that he was moved by her plight.

She was waiting to meet her son for 27 years and it was she who had entrusted him the responsibility to bring the militants to the negotiating table, he said.

Fernandes said he was impressed by the presentation by ULFA vice-chairman Pradeep Gogoi in Guwahati jail yesterday on Assam's 'deplorable' economic condition, which prompted him to travel to remote Jeraigaon despite ill health to meet Milliki.