GUWAHATI: Amid row over diminishing role of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) chief advisor Dr. Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharjya in the organisation, the senior leader on Sunday announced that he would retire from the students’ body at Duliajan conference which is scheduled to be held from November 18 to 21 this year.
“I will retire at Duliajan conference. Earlier I wanted to retire from AASU at Moran and Dudhnoi conferences,” Bhattacharjya said.
On the other hand, the AASU leader also reacted to the allegations labeled by a former AASU activist that Bhattacharjya has been sidelined thanks to the autocracy of present leadership.
“I disdain the misinterpreted comments on me by a recently-resigned state executive of the AASU,” the AASU chief advisor said.
Bhattacharjya also reiterated his stand to abstain away from politics.
“I have been saying that I will continue to work for the interests of the indigenous people of Assam by remaining outside the circle of politics and political parties,” the senior AASU leader added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Samujjal Bhattacharjya advocated for retaining the apolitical character of the students’ body. He said that any attempt to tarnish the apolitical image of the AASU would be resisted.
He stressed that the influential organisation would continue to work for the people of Assam at difficult times.
It is noteworthy that the veteran leader made first public appearance on Sunday after months of silence. Bhattacharjya’s sudden disappearance and silence raised widespread speculations in the state.
Amid such speculations, former state executive of the AASU Simanta Thakuria made some sensational remarks. He alleged that the AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath has been running autocracy and sidelined chief advisor Dr. Samujjal Bhattacharjya in the students’ body.
Addressing a press meet, ex-general secretary of the All Guwahati Students’ Union (AGSU) Thakuria said, “Samujjal Bhattacharjya has been sidelined in the organisation. Dipanka Kumar Nath is running autocracy. The activities of president Nath are autocratic. He is not following the process. He should take opinions of everyone. But Nath is doing according to his whims and fancies.”
The allegations invited sharp reactions from different quarters of the state. Kamalpur MLA Satyabrata Kalita was prompt to welcome the AASU chief advisor to the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). The AGP MLA urged Dr. Bhattacharjya to join his party.
Kalita said, “We welcome his service and activeness. We will welcome him to the AGP,” Kalita said at Baihata on Saturday.
