AASU, NESO to work with secular political parties

Safeguarding indigenous people’s interests

A CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: The All Assam Students Union (AASU) and North East Students Organisation (NESO) would work with all ‘secular’ political parties to safeguard the sentiments and interests of the indigenous people of Northeast.

“We are neither a political organization nor do we support any party with political intention but we will take support of all parties to safeguard the interest of the indigenous people of the Northeast in general and Assam in particular,” said AASU president Dipanka Nath.

Nath was talking to media persons here hours after the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die “without introduction and table of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB).”

The AASU president said that during the last few days they have met several political parties of South India and North India “and they have received positive responses.”

For the last couple of weeks, all the leaders of AASU and NESO have been campaigning in the national capital to generate support against the Citizenship Bill. Apart from meeting Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the student leaders also met several other political parties including the CPI, CPM, JD (U), Shiv Sena, and the NPP among others.

NESO advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said, “NESO would like to call this momentous occasion as a moral victory for the indigenous people of the Northeast, and we can stall this Bill only because of the united continuous movement of the people.”

He said that “the Government of India will not concede to our demands but we will have to fight and continue our struggle for the protection and survival of the indigenous people of Northeast.”

Bhattacharya added that “the NESO wants three more issues to be scrapped including the Notification and Order 2015, the passport entry of foreigners and the long-term visa.

“Although the Government was not able to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, we want that all these three issues should also be resolved,” said Bhattacharya, adding, “For this, we will continue our democratic movement as well as legal battle in Court.”

Meanwhile, NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa said, “NESO would like to thank all the component organisations who have worked very hard and sacrificed a lot to oppose this draconian Bill. On this occasion, it is very imperative to also thank the different State governments of the Northeast who have taken a bold stand on this issue, notably the State government of Meghalaya led by Conrad Sangma…”

Also read: Citizenship Bill Row: Massive torchlight rally taken out by AASU in Sarupathar against CAB’ 16