Activists of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), along with several groups on Wednesday staged a sit-in called garjon (roar) against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) near Duliajan Peopoltol Tiniali in Dibrugarh district.
People, irrespective of religion, participated in the event and raised slogans against the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state. Youths took part in large numbers.
The AASU’s Dibrugarh unit secretary, Shankarjyoti Baruah, who participated in the protest, said: “Today we hoped for the Supreme Court's hearing on the CAA, but the court will take four weeks’ time because the government of India has failed to submit its affidavit on time.”
The apex court on Wednesday made it clear that it would not grant any stay on the CAA without hearing the Centre and said it may refer pleas challenging the validity of the Act to a five-member constitution bench.
Baruah alleged that the Centre was afraid and so it sought six weeks’ time from the court. “The court allowed them to submit a report within four weeks,” he added.
He said: “We are glad as the top court today could not declare stay order over CAA because the central government was not able to submit its affidavit in the court. There is a ray of hope that the court will consider the CAA issue separately for Assam since the issue involves the Assam Accord.” Baruah added that court had directed the government to submit its report within two weeks for the case of Assam. “We will get justice from the top court against the CAA,” he said.
At the protest site, president of the Dibrugarh unit of the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union, Dipak Newar, said: “It is clear that the people of Assam will continue their protests until the state is exempted from the purview of the CAA. We welcome that the Assam issue will be dealt with separately.”
More than a thousand people participated in the protest. A few local artistes and several poets raised their voices against the CAA through songs and recitations.
The All Assam Tai Ahom Students’ Union, Sadou Asom Mottock Yuba Chatra Sanmilan, All Assam Minority Students' Union and many groups burnt copies of the CAA near 16 Tiniali. The activists of the Tengakhat unit of AASU and Tengakhat College Students’ Union also protested against CAA by boycotting classes and wearing black badges.
Cong joins agitation
The Jorhat district Congress committee organised a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Teok town on Wednesday.
Several hundred Congress workers joined the protest, which was attended by Assam PCC president, Ripun Bora, former MP and Jorhat district committee president Deep Gogoi and president of the Sivasagar district Congress committee, Sushanta Borgohain, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Bora said, “The Congress party is the only option for the people of Assam who will safeguard and give peace. For example, in 1955 when undivided Goalpara district was about to be handed over to Bengal, under the leadership of the Congress, it was saved from being attached.
The Jorhat Press Club also staged a demonstration for three hours in front of the deputy commissioner’s office to protest against the Act police proceedings against a journalist here. The press club members later submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through Jorhat deputy commissioner.
Additional reporting by Devajit Boruah in Jorhat
