Renowned Film Director from Assam Jahnu Barua and All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leader Samujjal Bhattacharya have appealed for peaceful and democratic protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Speaking to Inside Northeast, Barua said, "What is happening is very unfortunate...it is unfortunate and I don't know why the Centre and the State Governments are refusing to understand the realities of the Northeast. The leaders of Assam have been a failure, and I put the blame squarely on their shoulders."
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Ruing the state-of-affairs in the State, Barua said that the fates and futures of other states in India is being determined by their leaders. "In Assam, however, barring Gopinath Bordoloi, the fate of the people is being decided by Delhi", he said.
Barua also expressed his disappointment at the conduct of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, adding that everything has turned ' upside down.' He said, "Earlier, we were impressed by him, but now his conduct very disappointing.."
"I appeal the people to maintain peace. The protests should continue, but they should not take the law into their hands. In democratic protests, that is how we fight. Government should allow these protests because it is the people's right in a people's nation", Barua further appealed.
Meanwhile, reacting to the acts of vandalism across the State, AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya has alleged that a "third party" is indulging in acts of violence. He has further alleged that the miscreants are trying to hijack the people's movement against the Bill.
"For the sake of the anti-CAB movement, the people who have resorted to violence, they must stop at once. They are not friends of the anti-CAB movement. The authorities have charged the students with 'lathis', but are now failing to control the situation", he added, appealing the people to maintain peace.
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