GUWAHATI, Aug 19 - The All Assam Students� Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) today jointly announced the formation of a 16-member advisory committee to suggest the future course of action in the two organisations� fight for the rights of the Assamese people.
The committee has been formed to suggest timely steps to secure social, educational, economic and political future of the State, in the backdrop of CAA and COVID-19 induced situation in Assam, said AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath addressing the media here.
Though the AASU leaders denied the move as a preliminary exercise towards the students body�s political entry ahead of the State Assembly elections early next year, they stated that amid recent sociopolitical developments, both AASU and AJYCP have been getting public opinion regarding the need of a strong regional political alternative in the State.
The 16-member �Assam Paramarshadata Committee� is formed with eminent writer and former Asam Sahitya Sabha president Dr Nagen Saikia and Padma Shri award winning author Arup Kumar Dutta as advisors. Other members of the committee are former Meghalaya Governor RS Mooshahary, filmmaker Jahnu Barua, educationists Dr Krishna Gopal Bhattacharya, Basanta Deka, Ali Haider Laskar, Rana Changmai, Abu Shahid Rafikuddin Ahmed, former bureaucrat Dhiren Saikia, writer Sanjay Kumar Tanti, actor Prithviraj Rabha, journalist Surya Thausen, former ACS officer Hussain Ahmed Laskar, advocate Pranabjyoti Saikia and eminent citizen from Dibrugarh Pradip Koch.
The initial work of convening the committee would be handled by AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi and AJYCP general secretary Palash Changmai.
�The AASU would retain its apolitical character as a student body. However, both AASU and AJYCP are well aware of the fact that from the beginning of the anti-CAA movement in the State, people of Assam have openly expressed their support towards formation of a strong regional alternative,� AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattachrya said.
Nath said all office-bearers of AASU would also remain apolitical till they are associated with the student body.
�Initially, a state-level convention was planned for deciding the next course of action of the anti-CAA activists. However, due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown and restrictions on mass gathering, the idea of convention was dropped. Instead, we have the Assam Paramarshadata Committee that would suggest suitable action in the present context,� he added.
Once again, the AASU and AJYCP lambasted the national and regional political parties for their apathy towards the issues and problems being faced by the local people, including issue of illegal influx. AJYCP president RP Barua and general secretary Palash Changmai said that over the years, the people of Assam have been cheated and denied of their rights by the ruling parties in the State and at the Centre.
�With support and guidance of the people of Assam, we look forward to find solutions to the long pending problems affecting the State,� the youth body leaders added.
