"Are the AASU leaders still students?": Himanta Biswa Sarma mocks student leaders over age

DISPUR: Assam Finance, Health, and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that he is "not bothered" by the All Assam Students' Union's (AASU) shift to active politics. The Minister, ruling out chances of the student leaders rising to ascension in the 2021 elections, mocked them by questioning whether they are "students."

Responding to a query on whether AASU members will go on to join the BJP, Sarma said that he will not "allow" students to join active politics. "We will not allow them to come until and unless they complete their courses. By AASU, we mean students -- how can we allow students to join politics?", Sarma said, taking digs at the leadership of the AASU, who are readying themselves to join the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP).

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Upon being asked whether he feels threatened by AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi's promise to remove the BJP from Assam, Sarma said, "How can they remove us just like that? There are 3 crore people of Assam who will take the call come election time."

Urging the new regional organizations to band together for the polls, Sarma said, "We have seen that they are on the cusp of joining up, based on my advice. Whether or not they join a grand alliance against us, only time will tell."

The 4-day Conference of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) will see a tectonic shift in Assam’s largest student organization as its leaders are likely to cast off their Union robes in their pursuit for political aspirations. Around 8,000 Aasu delegates from Assam have reached Duliajan for the convention which is on the radar of political pundits as it is expected to give a final shape to the rew regional party, Asom Jayita Parishad (AJP).

In September, AASU and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), another influential student body, had joined hands and announced formation of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP). The party is expected to contest the upcoming polls in the State. The two regional student bodies had spearheaded the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act stir in the state opposing the Centre’s move to grant citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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