Assam: Marking the fifth anniversary of the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) staged protests across Guwahati on Wednesday, calling the legislation a “black law” that threatens Assam’s identity and cultural fabric.
The AJP organized a protest at Chachal, where party president Lurinjyoti Gogoi described the day as a “dark chapter” in Assam’s history. Holding a black flag, Gogoi said, “The painful memories of the CAA movement still haunt the Assamese people. We will never accept this law and will continue our struggle until it is repealed.”
Meanwhile, AASU supporters agitated outside their headquarters in Uzanbazar, condemning the BJP-led government for imposing the Act, which they claim undermines the Assam Accord. AASU leaders reiterated their commitment to ongoing protests, demanding the repeal of the legislation they consider unconstitutional.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, passed on December 11, 2019, aims to grant expedited citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis who entered India from Bangladesh, Pakistan, or Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014. The law has been mired in controversy, with critics arguing that it violates the secular ethos of the Constitution by excluding Muslims.
The Supreme Court’s October 17 verdict, which upheld Section 6A of the Citizenship Act and reaffirmed the cut-off date of March 25, 1971, for granting citizenship in Assam, has further fueled opposition, with AJP asserting that the CAA has become “illegal” in light of the ruling.
The passage of the CAA in 2019 had triggered widespread unrest in Assam, with violent protests leading to extensive damage to public property. Protesters had clashed with security forces, forcing the imposition of curfews in several cities. Even after five years, the wounds of those protests remain fresh, as Assamese communities continue to reject the law they believe threatens their cultural and demographic balance.
Both AJP and AASU vowed to intensify their resistance against the Act, signaling that the fight against CAA is far from over in Assam.
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