Senior advocate and activist Upamanyu Hazarika on Sunday eviscerated the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the controversial amendment of the Citizenship Act (or CAA), which has sparked massive protests across the Northeast.
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Addressing the press here today, Hazarika said, "Our leaders give us assurances, but they take actual stands in favor of illegal migrants. They wish to give citizenship to the illegals left out of the NRC via the Citizenship Amendment Act."
Hazarika also said that the resolution to protect the culture and identity in the State has only been taken since the BJP leaders are being attacked personally by the CAA protesters. "The way the leaders are attacking us, the same way we have to keep attacking them as well. This must continue", Hazarika opined.
"Announcing that Assamese will be the official language does not make sense, as there is a 1960 'Assam Official Languages Act', according to which Assam is the official language across the State. Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has also informed that Barak Valley will be excluded from the legislation making Assamese the official language.
Excoriating the BJP-led Government over its resolve to protect jati mati bheti, Hazarika said, "In regards to land, there has been no initiative to protect the land. Only now, once the leaders are being attacked, they are starting to panic. However, nothing can be ascertained until these assurances actually come to fruition."
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It is to be mentioned here that the passing of the CAA drew widespread resentment. The protests, which initially began in the Northeast Indian states, have now spread like a wildfire to all parts of the country. The protests turned violent in several parts of the country, with as many as 18 protesters reportedly being killed in police firing in UP. Assam saw as many as five agitators being killed after the protests, in the wake of the Bill's passage in the Rajya Sabha, turned violent.
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