GUWAHATI, June 11 � Questioning the exodus of leaders of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the State�s nationalist student organisations like the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) to the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), public activist Prof Deven Dutta has said that they should explain before the common people, in unambiguous terms, the grounds of sacrificing their regional ideology and joining a party like the BJP, which had been against regionalism and had been playing tricks on the people of Assam on a number of matters.
In a statement, Prof Dutta said that the trend of student leaders joining the BJP, Congress and the AIUDF was disturbing and amounted to sacrificing the interests of the State for furthering their narrow political ambition.
�These so-called leaders are cheating the State and its composite society. Is there any secret understanding between the so-called nationalist organizations and the BJP? The treachery played on the people of Assam by the BJP is there for all to see. Be it the mega dam issue or the issue of deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants, including the uncalled-for distinguishing of Hindu and Muslim migrants, the BJP�s deceit on the people of Assam is a fact,� he said.
Prof Dutta said that politics was neither a child�s play nor a mere stepping stone to become an MLA or an MP, sacrificing principles, ethics and the State�s interests.
�Before they join the BJP or the Congress, these so-called leaders should state in public that regionalism which they used to gain prominence is meaningless. They have no right to take the people for a ride,� he added.