GUWAHATI, Nov 22 � Reacting to statements made by Hrishikesh Baruah, the present general secretary of Gauhati University�s Postgraduate Students� Union (PGSU) at a recent press conference on the issue of mega dams, the other office-bearers of the PGSU today said that Baruah�s remarks were far from being the consensus opinion of the students� body and those did not have any endorsement of the PGSU.
In a statement, nine office-bearers of the PGSU including its vice-president Saurabh Kumar Baruah said that they were against the idea of opposing mega dams just for the sake of opposing it.
�Experts� opinion forms the basis of our stand on mega dams, and the one-sided comments of Baruah targetting some of the PGSU�s past office-bearers do not have our endorsement and we are sorry and shocked at this,� the statement said, adding that �we cannot accept Baruah�s opinion that the former PGSU office-bearers had insulted the experts on dams and the GU teaching community.�
The present PGSU office-bearers said that it was a convention to hold a press conference following the formation of a new body for airing its plans and programmes for the year.
�We were surprised at the remarks of Baruah but did not intervene for the sake of mainlining discipline and decorum. Later when we sought a clarification from him, he was unable to give any satisfactory explanation, and so we deemed it fit to express our views on the entire development,� they said, adding that Baruah was trying to complicate the issue for gaining narrow political mileage.
�It was necessary to have a discussion on the issue of mega dams at the PGSU forum before voicing any opinion in public. We strongly condemn Baruah�s action and warn him against using the sacred floor of the university for promoting his personal agenda,� they said.
