Assam: 'Girl Power' Reigns Supreme in Guwahati's All-Women Protest against 'CAA'

Guwahati, January 19, 2019:

Hundreds of women swarmed to the historic Latashil playground in Guwahati, Assam, earlier today to mark their stand against the controversial amendment of the Citizenship Act by the BJP-led Government at the Centre.

Hundreds of ladies -- young and old, student and working, married and single -- assembled at the protest site holding placards decrying the Government's "communal" and urging it to focus on the 'real issues' such as the economy and growing unemployment woes.

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'I think the Government is trying to pull wool over the public's eyes by bringing these policies. Whereas, the economy is in doldrums and jobs are scarce. Where is the answer to these problems?", one of the women, carrying a placard urging the Government to "fix the economy" told this reporter.

Meanwhile, several students also took part in the rally. A young yet feisty protester, who was seen leading the anti-CAA brigade with her chants, cautioned the Government that India should not turn into 'another Israel.'

Tribal representation was also seen, with the tribal women cautioning the Government that the Northeast is not the 'dumping ground of illegal immigrants.'

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"Northeast has already suffered enough due to the baggage of illegal immigrants...we want to tell the Government that enough is enough...we won't accept any more of them", said a young tribal student, worried that the CAA will being yet another influx of 'foreigners' to potentially threaten the language, culture, and identity of the indigenous.

Many tiny tots also took part in the protest. A little one, upon being urged by her mother, who was participating in the rally, said: "CAA ami namanu namanu namanu" (CAA won't be accepted, won't be accepted, won't be accepted).

Meanwhile, Barsha Rani Bishaya, last seen in the Assamese blockbuster 'Ratnakar', cautioned the people that attempts to subvert the Constitution must be thwarted at any cost and exhorted the people to ensure that they uphold the "secular values" of the Constitution. Barsha also led the women in taking a pledge vowing to protect the Constitution of India.

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The march of protest ended at the Assam Engineering Instituite (AEI) playground, another site of protests against the CAA, and the women resolved to keep fighting like this until their voices reach the ears of the stubborn Government.

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