Congress will build anti-CAA memorial in Guwahati if it comes to power: Ripun Bora

GUWAHATI: In yet another initiative to cash in on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 sentiment in Assam, the Congress today announced that it will build a memorial of the anti-CAA movement here if it is voted to power in state after the state assembly polls.

“In the coming months, Guwahati will see a new landmark: a grand memorial in memory of the anti-CAA movement to be built by the incoming Congress government.

“This will be the state’s message to BJP: no CAA in Assam,” tweeted state Congress chief Ripun Bora today.

Five persons -- Sam Stafford, Abdul Alim, Ishwar Nayak, Dipanjal Das and Ajijur Rahman -- were killed in police firing during the anti-CAA protests that started on December 11, 2019.

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Immediately, after the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2019, the state witnessed mayhem during protests all across. The protests continued for nearly a month till restrictions were imposed on assembly of people as a preventive measure against spread of novel coronavirus.

The Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, had on Sunday sported gamochas with a no-CAA symbol printed on them when Gandhi addressed a rally at Boarding Field in Sivasagar. Gandhi repeatedly said: “CAA will not be allowed, come what may!”

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While Rahul Gandhi drew accolades in the Brahamaputra Valley for the statement, his effigies were burnt in the Barak Valley though. The Congress in the Barak Valley supports the Act that provides for Indian citizenship to non-Muslim from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who have migrated to India till December 2014 facing persecution in those countries.

Kaliabor MP Gaurav Gogoi yesterday tweeted: “Assam will never allow BJP to shake the foundation of unity, as it tried by bringing in CAA! Assam has & will continue to fight against all divisive forces- come what may! United we stand!”

The Congress had voted against the passage of the CAB. The Bill was not passed in the first attempt in February 2019 when the then Congress-majority Rajya Sabha voted against it.