Guwahati, 1st March: All Assam Students Union (AASU) alongside 30 ethnic groups have declared a series of protests against the central government’s decision to enforce the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) in the state.
The agitation plan includes a bike rally across all district headquarters on March 4, burning copies of the CAA rules upon imposition, paying homage to five martyrs on March 8 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, a 12-hour hunger strike on March 9, and a satyagraha in all district headquarters (date to be announced later).
A meeting convened by AASU president Nilutpal Sarma and attended by representatives of 30 ethnic groups in Guwahati discussed the prevailing political situation.
AASU’s chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya, addressing a press conference post-meeting, stated that after deliberation, they decided to withdraw the anti-CAA protest for the greater interests of the state’s indigenous people.
Bhattacharya cautioned both the central and state governments against jeopardizing the future of indigenous communities by imposing the CAA. He emphasized that the people of Assam and the Northeast vehemently oppose the CAA and demand the deportation of all Bangladeshis who entered the state after 1971.
Expressing concern over the timing of CAA implementation amid ongoing legal battles in the Supreme Court, Bhattacharya questioned the rationale behind enforcing CAA at this juncture. He further questioned the applicability of CAA in states without inner-line permits, highlighting discrepancies in its implementation.
Reiterating AASU’s unwavering stance against the CAA, Bhattacharya emphasized the harmful effects of the Act on the Northeastern states. He raised pertinent questions regarding the exemption of certain states and regions from the CAA and urged the central government to reconsider its decision.
Bhattacharya underscored the importance of democratic and legal means in the fight against CAA, reaffirming AASU’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of the indigenous people of Assam and the Northeast.
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