Image Courtesy:TOI
The Bhupen Hazarika memorial at Jalukbari, Guwahati saw a protest rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) organized by the artistes of the state and backed by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). Thousands of people were present wearing black masks as a mark of their angst against the CAA and vowed to uproot the current government if it failed to respect public sentiment
This rally took place a day after a massive gathering of BJP workers at Khanapara ground in a show of strength for CAA.
The rally covered a distance of 14 kms from Jalukbari to Dighalipukhuri. AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said, “The BJP showed its strength with its party workers but the anti-CAA movement has public support. In a democracy, public is the power and this movement has witnessed spontaneous public support from day one.” AASU maintained its stance that their movement will continue until their goal of securing constitutional safeguards for the indigenous people of Assam was achieved. AASU general secretary also accused the government of hiring goons to attack protestors and warned the government against applying force or power to dominate their movement.
BJP President’s statement that “duck sellers, chicken sellers, vegetable vendors and egg sellers” were participating in the anti-CAA rallies, invited a response from Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) general secretary Palash Changmai, who said, “Why can’t vegetable vendors or chicken sellers join the movement? If a tea seller can become the Prime Minister then I am sure a vegetable seller is also a patriot and can assert his democratic voice.”
Zubeen Garg, a popular singer in the state has been voicing his agitation against the government since the beginning of the anti-CAA protests and was leading the artists community rally as well. He said, “The government is not listening to our voices and so we have worn these black masks in protest. If needed we are ready for a political alternative. We are ready to uproot this government if it continues to be blind and deaf to the people’s cry.”
Popular singer Manas Robin said the artiste community would decide to take forward the protest against the amended citizenship law on January 17, when the state celebrates Shilpi Divas in memory of Assam’s cultural icon Jyoti Prasad Agarwala; while also calling upon various communities and organizations in Assam to join hands in opposing the new citizenship law.
These protests are braving the cold and harsh winter rains to stand in protest. Another protest organized by Shilpi Samaj, an artist fraternity in Assam saw Dibrugarh-based musician Prasanta Bordoloi addressing the gathering at Jeotimoral Sangha playground in Dibrugarh on December 5. He said that CAA was against the people of Assam. He added, “The ongoing anti-CAA movement reflects our rational and emotional sides. The CAA is against the secular fabric of the country and will divide the people of India. We, the artiste fraternity, assembled here to protest against it. The government has forcefully imposed it on Assam for vote bank politics.”
This gathering saw people singing songs of Bhupen Hazarika and the common sentiment among the protestors remained that Assam is not a dumping ground for illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and that CAA violates the Assam Accord and hence the protests would go on until CAA is scrapped.
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