OUR CORRESPONDENT
TEZPUR: The 'United Regional Party, Assam (ARPA)' was launched here on Wednesday. Addressing the media on the occasion, noted lawyer Arup Borbora — who is the president of the newly-floated regional political party — along with cultural activist Alak Nath — the party secretary – dwelt as to how they would take forward regional politics in the present-day juncture. Among others present during the press briefing were noted filmmaker Jahnu Barua and actor Jerifa Wahid.
Borbora said, "With the participation and support of each party and national organization having the concept of national prosperity, inclusive politics will be the major prospect of the URPA. The party will always stay away from the idea of Indian nationalism and 'communal' parties. However, we shall always accord priority to the organizations which have been playing major roles in the mitigation of national problems."
The leaders added that a united fight was the need of hour to wipe out the BJP-AGP combine and other anti-Assam allied forces.
On the sidelines of the press meet, Borbora told The Sentinel that "many feel that the AGP is a major regional political party since 1986, yet it has now ceased to remain so as it has already compromised with the very basic principle of regionalism.
"Our party is uncompromising, secular, honest and inclusive. We will have people from all religions, linguistic and ethnic communities living in the region. It will maintain equidistance from nationalist and religiously-driven parties which are not secular and honest," filmmaker Jahnu Baruah said.
Earlier, a full-fledged organizational meeting was held on Tuesday at the historic 'Baan Theatre' here. Among those present on the occasion were noted filmmaker Jahnu Barua, Assamese film actor Jerifa Wahid, and artist Prithiraj Rava. After an hour-long threadbare discussion, the meeting took the unanimous decision to launch the regional political party.
An advisory board was also formed with former Axam Xahitya Xabha president Dr Nagen Saikia, film producer and director Jahnu Barua, Abu Naser and Dr Anjan Saikia. The committee, which will be away from all political practices, will only monitor the new regional party's activities with their necessary advice.
Besides forming an uncompromising political party, the meeting took three major resolutions, including extension of support to the new political agenda of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), were adopted.
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