Noted litterateur and former Rajya Sabha member Dr Nagen Saikia is of the view that prominent persons of the State should get together to lead the way for formation of a new political party at this juncture to protect the interests of the indigenous people of Assam.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Dr Saikia said the existing political parties miserably failed to protect the interests of the indigenous people and it is high time that the people of the State think of a suitable alternative. He suggested that the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) can take the initiative in this regard.
He said as a first step, prominent persons of the State, including former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, former Chief Election Commissioner HS Brahma, retired high court judges, retired educationists and other prominent personalities from various fields should be involved so that a “water tight constitution” of a new political party can be formulated, Dr Saikia said.
“A committee of prominent persons should be formed first to give suggestions to the new party, and the leaders and members should be chosen carefully. Only persons who really love Assam and has clear cut idea about the problems of the State should be chosen as members of the party. The aim of the party should be either to grab power in the 2021 elections in the State or to become a strong opposition to keep a close watch on the activities of the government,” Dr Saikia, who is also a former president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, said. He suggested that till a new party is formed, the youths, particularly members of the AASU, should visit the villages and the tea gardens to educate the people about the problems of the State.
Dr Saikia said there is a difference between the real causes of the movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Assam and in other parts of the country. He pointed out that people of Assam are fighting against a major threat to the identity, language and culture, while the people in other parts of the country are opposing the Act for different reasons.
“But we are fighting a common enemy,” he added.
Dr Saikia was involved with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) when the regional party was formed after the signing of the Assam Accord and today, he feels that the party may not exist for a long time. He said that when the AGP was formed, he had offered several suggestions to its leaders, but they did not pay heed to the same.
“Now the leaders of the AGP are only interested in power and in the process, they almost got the party merged with the BJP. How will the people trust a party, an MP of which speaks out against the CAB and votes in favour of the same,” he said. (ASSAM TRIBUNE)
