SIVASAGAR, March 1 - Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya in an exclusive interview to this correspondent here yesterday said that the AASU-led agitation on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is basically to create a conducive political environment and understanding between a government in power and the people to settle certain issues close to the heart of the Assamese community at large and not to create anarchy and unsettle everything else. It was due to this that the anti-CAA agitation that AASU had launched had to be temporarily suspended till the examination period was over. He emphatically clarified that the agitation will be resumed soon and there can be no question of any compromise on the core issues. Dr Bhattacharya was attending the adyashraddha ceremony of the mother of Sarat Hazarika, education secretary, AASU, at his Sivasagar Dhuliapar residence.
He was referring to the adverse comments passed by social activists Medha Patkar and Sandeep Pandey on the AASU leadership stating that the agitation in Assam is being carried out in � understanding� with the government. Bhattacharya said that the AASU cannot continue with agitation with partners like the KMSS and the others as it may end up in destructive violence like which had erupted in Guwahati taking the AASU leadership by surprise and destroying the very fabric of peaceful civil society. He said that the comments passed by the social activists are totally irresponsible and they cannot relate to the agitation in Assam with the ones outside the State. �The Assamese society has its distinct socio-cultural, traditional and moral codes of conduct and our students cannot throw away all the principle values in the name of agitation and attack everyone, whoever they come across in the streets,� he added.
When asked as to how long the anti-CAA movement will continue, Dr Bhattacharya said that it cannot be predicted as the issues are very complicated, �but we will continue as long as a solution is not thrashed out.�
