AASU will always remain apolitical, says Samujjal Bhattacharjya

* The longest-serving student leader hints at quitting AASU

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Advisor of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjya, on Sunday, broke his silence and asserted that the influential students' organization would always remain apolitical.

Dr Bhattacharjya's assertion has come at a time when the AASU is facing criticism at different quarters for reportedly toeing a political line and associating itself with the newly floated political party — the Asam Jatiya Mancha.

"I was not well for a long time. As per the doctors' advice, I have now started to again become active. I want to assure the people of Assam that the AASU will always remain apolitical. The AASU is a constant force of struggle to raise the real issues of Assam. Whenever there is a crisis in the State, the AASU has been taking the lead. The people also want to see the AASU as a force of struggle. We respect the peoples' sentiment; and the AASU will continue its struggle. We will defeat the forces that try to make the AASU political," he said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual conference of the All Guwahati Students' Union held at Dharapur in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district on Sunday, Dr Bhattacharjya reiterated his stand to serve the indigenous people of Assam by remaining outside politics and the election process.

Refuting the recent allegations made against him by a former State executive committee member of AASU, Dr Bhattacharjya said that the AASU runs on the principle of collective leadership.

"I also want that the AASU should always run on collective leadership. Being the senior-most member, I will continue to serve the AASU irrespective of praise and criticism. I will serve the AASU till my last breath," said the longest-serving students' leader.

Dr Bhattacharya also hinted that he would officially quit from the post of office bearer of AASU during the annual conference of the students' union slated at Duliajan in November.

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