Guwahati: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) will organise a statewide tribute for Kuldip Nayar, a veteran journalist and author who had stood by AASU during the Assam Movement, on Friday.

Nayar, 95, died at 12.30am at Escorts Hospital, New Delhi, on Thursday.

An AASU statement said its members would pay tribute to Nayar in every district and sub-division of the state by lighting candles before his photograph. A tribute programme will also be organised at Swahid Nyash, AASU's central office here, at 3pm.

"Nayar had devoted himself to Assam and its people through his activities and writings. During the six-year Assam Movement, he came to Assam and stood by the people," said Dipanka Kumar Nath, president of AASU.

"Realising the objective and importance of Assam Movement, Nayar had taken the lead in creating awareness about it at the national and international level. Even after signing of the Assam Accord, he had taken steps so that the government could implement the Accord to solve the problem of influx in the state," he said.

Nath said even recently Nayar had given suggestions to AASU on the state's problems. "After becoming a member of Rajya Sabha, Nayar had attended a conference of AASU at Barpeta in 1999. There he had offered funds to AASU to set up education centres. From donation of his MP fund, we have set up several such centres where students are given computer education," Nath said.

Nayar had donated Rs 10 lakh to Assam Jatiya Bidyalay at Noonmati to construct classrooms in a bid to promote vernacular school.

Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi and AGP president and agriculture minister Atul Bora also condoled Nayar's death.

"Saddened to learn the passing away of Kuldip Nayar, a frank and fearless journalist and intellectual giant," Mukhi said in a condolence message.