All Assam Students' Union declares support to only regional force

GUWAHATI: With notification for the State's Assembly polls likely to be issued in the first week of March, the AASU (All Assam Students' Union) has declared its support in favour of only a regional force. And with this development, the AASU is all set to play a proactive role in the forthcoming elections.

Talking to The Sentinel, AASU president Dipanko Kumar Nath elaborated, "Despite the fact that AASU is an apolitical students' organization, we will announce the details of our strategy in due course. We have already started consultations in this regard.

"We are absolutely clear on certain core issues. We cannot compromise with the supreme sacrifice of more than 855 martyrs during the six-year-old agitation launched in 1979. Hence, we will support only such a regional force that will oppose the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act). The AASU will never support any party backing the CAA.

"This strong stance is primarily because if CAA is implemented, citizenship will be given on a platter to even the Hindus from Bangladesh who had entered the State after March 25, 1971 – the date agreed upon in the Assam Accord of 1985. According to the Accord signed with the Central government, a foreigner is a foreigner irrespective of his caste, creed, religion or community."

Nath stressed, "AASU will neither support the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) nor the Congress. We cannot have any truck with the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) because of its communal agenda. There was a regional party once upon a time – the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). But now, the AGP has also surrendered before the BJP.

"Against this backdrop, AASU will look for a force that is regional to its core. Besides having a clear stand against the CAA, such a party must always fight and resolve the burning issues of Assam."

Also Read: DRSU felicitates newly elected AASU members in Demow

Also Watch: GMCH Gets Ready for COVID Shot