Guwahati: A total of 11 regional and national parties on Wednesday staged a protest against the current BJP government in Assam demanding that significant concerns in the state be resolved.
The protest took place at the Gauhati Club on MC Road in Kamrup metro.
Indian National Congress (INC), Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP), Raijor Dal, Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI (M), CPI(M-L), Aam Admi Party (AAP), Anchalik Gana Morcha, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and LDP were among the 11 parties that protested.
Protesters chanted anti-BJP slogans, accusing the government of acting against the wants and ambitions of Assamese people.
The demonstrators’ main goal was to reopen the Nagaon Paper Mill, which had been closed since March 2017.
Protests were also conducted against the government’s decision to sell 26 bighas of railway land to three out-of-state traders at nominal prices.
The protesting parties say the Assam government’s decision to sell the paper mill’s land and property to foreign traders for a pittance is unacceptable.
The demonstrators also brought up the central government’s disbursement of Rs 1,181 crore for the reactivation of the paper plant.
Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, a prominent spokesperson for the Indian National Congress (INC) said that all parties will work together to protest till the BJP is removed from power in Assam.
“What hope can we have in the ruling administration when the chief minister is involved in selling Assam’s important land and property to outsiders?” Bhattacharjee asked.
“We will continue to demonstrate till the BJP government in the state is deposed.” “We thus appeal to the public to join us in dethroning those who oppose our Jati, Mati, and Bheti,” Bhattacharjee said.
He further said that the BJP government must pay for their actions.
On the other hand, Congress leader Manjit Mahanta warned that the protests against the ruling administration have just begun and that they will continue unless state-related issues are addressed.
“Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says he is unaware of the sale of Guwahati’s land to foreign traders,” Mahanta added. We shall not easily relinquish our land to foreigners.”