Guwahati: Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) were held at several places across Assam by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and several indigenous organisations after Prime Minister Narendra arrived in the state on Saturday morning.
AASU, which spearheaded the anti-CAA protests in the state in December 2019, launched a 3-day protest against the legislation beginning Friday.
Police restored to baton-charge at a torch rally organised in Tezpur and in Guwahati a large rally was blocked by the police on Friday evening. Tension was also reported from Sivasagar and Dhekiajuli during similar rallies.
The students’ organisation took out the serial protests, pressing for their demands which include scrapping of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Intense protests from Bokakhat, Pathsala, Tinsukia and other places across Assam have also been reported on Saturday.
AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath said, “Ahead of every election, PM Modi will come to Assam and make some false promises. The people of Assam have understood the BJP’s brand of politics. They will never accept CAA.”
The AASU is also in favour of repealing the Environment Impact Assessment Act, and implementation of the report of the Committee on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which safeguards constitutional rights of indigenous people.
AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said, “We, time and again, assured the authorities that our agitation will be non-violent, democratic and peaceful, but BJP government is scared as they failed the people of Assam.”
Criticising the Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal, Bhattacharya said, “It was from Swahid Bhawan that Sonowal reached the chief minister’s office and now he is sending force to stop democratic and peaceful protests. This is shameful and we condemn this.”
The organisation has staged protests in all districts and sub-divisional headquarters by covering their faces with black cloth during PM Modi’s visit on Saturday, and observed ‘Black Day’ by burning copies of the CAA.
“The constitutional safeguard under Clause 6 of Assam Accord is our democratic right and not any charity by the Prime Minister or home minister. Our protests will continue till these demands are fulfilled,” the AASU leader asserted.
Meanwhile, the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parisad (AJYCP) and Axomia Juba Mancha – two prominent regional organisation of Assam has staged a black flag protest in front of the BJP office in Sapekhuti, Charaideo district of Assam, to oppose the Prime Minister’s visit to the state.
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