Eighteen Assam organisations on Friday launched fresh protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), demanding its repeal and release of jailed KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi who was taken into custody during the protests last year.

Unions including the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, All Assam Students Union (AASU), Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Lachit Sena, besides students, and youth organisations of ethnic communities, took out protest rallies across the state.

This time too, the agitation began from Sivasagar, the same place from where it was launched last year before getting halted due to Covid-19.

Mentioning that the CAA was against the identity, language and cultural heritage of the indigenous people of the state, the protestors were demanding that the act be revoked.

Leaders of the organisations during their addresses said people will give a “fitting reply” to the ruling BJP government in Assam in the next Assembly elections for “betraying the people by imposing the CAA upon them despite protests, since its introduction in Parliament till its enactment”.

The AASU, which had launched the six-year long anti- foreigners Assam Movement (1979-1985), has called for a 'Rono Hungkar' (clarion call for war against CAA) from Saturday on the first 'anniversary' of the anti-CAA agitation.

The AASU hoisted black flag at its headquarters here and displayed such flags in seven northeast states under aegis of the North East Students Organisation demanding roll back of the CAA, AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya told reporters.

“The government has to repeal the anti-Assam law that has claimed the lives of five Assamese citizens, including innocent students. The families of the deceased people and the AASU will continue to seek justice,” a press release by the union, issued jointly by its president Dipanka Kumar Nath and general secretary Shankar Jyoti Baruah, said.

Five persons had lost their lives during the anti-CAA protests in Guwahati last year.