AASU's 'Lion Roar' against CAA in Upper Assam Witnesses Massive Turnout of Women

Guwahati, January 18, 2019:

Staging a massive 'lion's roar' at Upper Assam's Naharkatia, the leadership of the All Assam Students' Union on Saturday issued a warning to the Centre that the people of Assam would not accept the Citizenship (Amendment) Act at any cost.

The rally, that had been termed as the "Xinhor Garjan" (lion roar), saw active participation from hundreds of women. The faces of women, particularly, who have played an active role in the agitation, stood out, as they listened to the leaders take to the stage and issue their challenge to the ruling regime.

The women protesters have been the highlight of the AASU's protests against the CAA. Whenever there has a protest or a rally, these women have turned up in great numbers to extend their solidarity to the cause. Carrying gamusas, the women, especially those in Upper Assam, have covered their heads with the venerable shawl at the protests and raised their voices in unison against the CAA and the ruling dispensation. Feeling a sense of betrayal over their chosen champion Sarbananda Sonowal's silence regarding the issue.

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regarding the issue, the massive turnout of women at protests has been symbolic of the fairer sex's general discontentment over the issue, as they fear that they have a lot to lose if the Government does not budge on the issue. However, a sense of helplessness is also there, as the BJP leadership (and especially Home Minister Amit Shah) have reiterated time-and-again that they will not "give an inch" on the CAA.

AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi, paying homage to the 855 martyrs of the 'Assam Agitation' at a memorial stone, told reporters, "Everyone has come out. On everyone's lawns, you can see anti-CAA placards", Lurin informed, adding that the people have sold their grains to fund the anti-CAA movement led by the AASU. The AASU leader further stated that the people must be given justice by rolling back the CAA, and then "solving" the foreigner issue in the State.

It may be mentioned here that the state of Assam has risen in revolt against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act after the BJP-led Government pushed it through both Houses of the Parliament. For more than a month, protests have rocked many parts of India, and specifically Assam. The people fear that the CAA, that seeks to grant asylum to non-Muslims from 3 neighboring countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) could potentially pose a threat to their culture, language, and identity.

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