Delayed by lockdown, Aasu now to fast-track move to form new political alternative in Assam

GUWAHATI: All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) , which is in the forefront of protests in the the state against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has announced it will revive its move to form a new political alternative despite lockdown restrictions in place.

Aasu president Dipanka Kumar Nath told newspersons on Wednesday that the move to form a political party - first indicated by the students organisation in December 2019 - was delayed because of lockdown restrictions over Covid-19.

“ We are delayed by two months. However there are mobile phones, there is the internet. We will reach out to people. The political party formed by Aasu in the past has surrendered before Delhi. People want an alternative to protect regionalism and Assam’s interests, ” Nath said.


In December, Nath had during the Aasu's protests against the CAA indicated the possibility of floating an alternative to the ruling BJP-AGP and the Opposition Congress in Assam.

Nath in his address to the media also launched a scathing attack on the Sarbananda Sonawal government's efforts to contain Covid-19, saying the lockdown decision was faulty and was increasing the number of cases in the state. Guwahati is presently under a14-day lockdown which will end on July 12.

Calling the state's anti-Covid 19 measures a drama, he said, “Some people despite COVID situation are initiating mass contact programmes meeting people, however on the other hand livelihood of daily wage earners and other people are compromised.”

Nath asked why the state government was not following the home treatment protocol prescribed by the ICMR.

State health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hit out against Nath, challenging Aasu volunteers to "come and look after patients in hospital without wearing a PPE kit.”

“ Tell me, whether the cases in the US, UK and Delhi is a drama? Whether the dead bodies are drama? I have nothing more to say,” Sarma said.