Indigenous organizations begin fresh wave of protests against 'CAA' in Upper Assam

TINSUKIA: Upper Assam, the epicenter of the public's rage against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the Northeast Indian region, is seeing a fresh wave of protests against the 'draconian' Act, with indigenous organizations promising to intensify the agitation if the unpopular Act is not rolled back.

Exactly a year ago, the passage of the Act that fast tracks citizenship to minority communities from neighboring Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan triggered resentment that resulted in widespread protests that only died down after the imposition of a stringent lockdown to check the spread of the novel coronavirus. With the lifting of the curbs and a vaccine delivery mechanism being readied by the Centre, the agitating groups have once again resolved to bring the concerns over the 'CAA' to the mainstream.

Protests again rose to the centrestage today in Upper Assam's Jorhat. Organizations like the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), CPI, CPI-M-L, and some other organizations opposed to the 'CAA' today took to the streets of Jorhat town where they raised quite the din.

"We have opposed the CAA ever since it was a Bill. We have been opposing it since the very inception. Although the agitation was stymied after the corona landed on our shores, the agitation will be intensified. This communal Act shall never be accepted. The Government of Assam has not even given proper remuneration to the families of the 5 martyrs of the movement, therefore we will not the BJP accomplish their agenda at any cost," a CPI activist told us at the Jorhat protest site.

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Similar scenes unfolded in Tinsukia, where prominent regional organizations such as the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) registered loud protests on the streets.

Today, the KMSS staged a "Gana Garjan" (public's war cry) against the 'CAA' in all the districts across the State.

"Last year, 5 youths were killed during the protests after the unjust imposition of the 'CAA' and imprisoned Akhil Gogoi, our leader, on flimsy grounds. If he is not released at the earliest, we will be compelled to intensify the protests and take it to a frightful stage," said a KMSS activist at the Tinsukia's protest.

Another protest was held by the AASU, which resolved to continue the agitation if the Act is not repealed.

"Even though 5 youths were martyred in firing the police, the current dispensation is yet to admit its faults. This is a traitorous Government that must be toppled," an AASU activist said in today's protest at Tinsukia.

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