GUWAHATI: Leaders of the All Assam Students’ Union, who have remained “apolitical” all throughout their lives, finally took the plunge into politics with general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi heading out to join the newly-floated Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP).
Gogoi, in his last public speech as Aasu general secretary on Saturday, said a prolonged fight for an “error-free” National Register of Citizens and implementation of the all-important Cause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord are on their agenda. “Due to imposition of Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) by the Centre, Assam’s language, culture and political rights are at stake. In such a crucial time, our biggest concern is how to take ahead the mass movement against CAA. Our standpoint is clear — Assam won’t take the burden of even a single illegal foreigner on its land,” Gogoi added.
He said all foreigners, irrespective of their religion, who entered the state after March 24, 1971, must be deported as per the Assam Accord signed with the Centre and the state government. Gogoi called upon the people of Assam to resist the “fascist forces” that were responsible for imposition of CAA to end the supremacy of the indigenous tribes and communities of the state.
When asked about how he plans his new innings, Gogoi, without divulging much details, said, “I had decided my future course of action long ago. I had already declared my decision to hand over the charge to the younger generation. I will always do whatever is good for Aasu, and Assam’s social life and society.” Aasu central committee vice-president Chittaranjan Basumatary and chief organising secretary Raju Phukan, along with a number district-level leaders, have already joined AJP.
Speculations are that president Dipanka Kumar Nath will also join AJP as he is one of the most vocal proponents of a political alternative to the BJP-led coalition.
On the other hand, chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya is in a dilemma over his future. Samujjal, who is known to be the face of Aasu, had announced that he will quit the body during the Duliajan convention. However, he has taken some time as he said he “needs to talk to his conscience following the demand of the delegates to not leave”.
Reacting over Samujjal’s decision, AGP president Atul Bora, said, “Samujjal Bhattacharyya has sacrificed a lot, unlike many new leaders in Aasu who are after power. People can expect a lot from him. With his stature, he could easily have become an MLA, MP or minister, but he continued serving Aasu.”