Protest by cotton College Student's Union
Guwahati, December 6, 2019: Moments after news of the clearance of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) by Union Cabinet on December 4, 2019 massive protests have erupted all over Assam.
Protests on the streets, within various Government premises by various organizations, political parties, rights and social organizations. The clearance of CAB by the Union Cabinet, which is now all set to be passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively on December 9 and 10, has generated a huge discontent among people of Assamese nationality. At the various protest meetings, marches, sit-in demonstrations that have burst forth in different parts of the state, questions are being raised about CAB: the amendment bill is not only against the basic structure of Indian Constitution, but has also fuelled again the popular narrative here in Assam. This revolves around the entrenched belied that such an amendment will allow lakhs of Bangladeshis to be settled in Assam and this will endanger the Assamese language, culture and identity.
After the clearance that CAB got on December 4, both AASU and AJYCP held a protest program at Assam House, New Delhi. Thereafter, various torch marches were organized in various towns by more than 100 organizations. On December 5, massive protest meetings were organized all over the state by various organizations, where several thousands of people attended.
The massive protest meetings and rallies that took place against CAB on December 5 in Assam spanned the whole state:
Panikhaiti in Kamrup District,
Rangpur in Silchar city in Cachar District,
various places of Majuli, Kamalabari in Majuli District, Gargaon in Sivasagar District,
Sadia of Tinsukia District,
Filobari in Tinsukia District,
Hatikhuli in Sivasagar District,
several places of Marangi in Golaghat District, Mathurapur in Charaideu District,
Tingkhang in Dibrugarh District,
Rajgarh in Dibrugarh District,
Sepon in Dibrugarh District,
Jagon in Tinsukia District.
The other places where massive protests took place are Doomduma, Golaghat, Moran, Sapekhati, Margherita, Tiyak, Namti, Lahowal, Sivasagar, Tinsukia in upper Assam.
Likewise, heavy protests were witnessed in Samoguri in Nagaon District, Puranigudam in Nagaon District and various other places in these District. Likewise, in lower Assam various places of Nalbari District, Tamulpur in Baksa District, Ghograpar in Nalbari District, Patacharkuchi in Barpeta District, Mirja in Kamrup District, Bagmara and Pathsala in Barpeta District, Kamalpur in Kamrup District. Other places that witnessed such protest are Hauraghat in Karbi Anglong hill District, Tongla in Udalguri District, Morigaon, Jagiroad and Mayong in Morigaon District, Dhakuakhana in Dhemaji District, Laluk in Lakhimpur District, Dhemaji public bus station, Dhemaji police station traffic point, Bordoloni, Gogamukh, Silapather and Simen Sapori in Dhemaji District, Sisibor Gaon in Lakhimpur District, Gahpur and Biswanath Chariali in Biswanath District.
The important protest meeting and rally was organized by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samitee (KMSS) where 28 another organizations and individuals including some eminent journalists, artists, writers and eminent public figures attended. The protest march was organized adjoining the Assam Legislative Assembly at Dispur Lastgate area, violating the prohibitive orders in this zone.
At the meeting several speakers, rapped the present BJP Government in the state and centre for imposing the CAB in violation of the basic structure of the Constitution doctrine and the Assam Accord. At the meeting almost all the speakers warned the Central Govt that CAB will not be accepted in Assam. at any cost. Speaking the huge gathering former DGP of Assam Mr. Harekrishna Deka said, “CAB is against the spirit of Indian Constitution, it is against Assam Accord, it is against people of Assam. It must be defeated to protect our constitution, for the safeguard of Assamese society, language and culture. People of Assam will never accept the CAB.” Haidar Hussain an eminent journalist of Assam said, “the unwanted children of Assam who are leading the present Government are supporting the CAB only to kill Assamese society.” Another eminent journalist Adip Phukan Said, “it is a life and death question for Assamese society. If the CAB is passed, Assam will not exist.” Akhil Gogoi, chief adviser of KMSS leading the gathering said, “it is time to unite Assamese society. If Assamese society is to exist we must compel the Government to withdraw CAB. The people of Assam will not accept the CAB as it will open the door for the entry of 1.7 crore people to Assam.” All Assam Tai Ahom students Union (AATSU) leader Manoj Gogoi said in the gathering, “Assamese people will never bow down before the Indian Government, hence, it will reject CAB.” He further warned that “ Assamese people do not know how to die, they know only how to kill.” Lahit Gogoi, The working president of Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad, Assam (TYPA) said, Narendra Modi took our vote on a promise that they will deport the foreigners. But, they are inviting foreigner now through CAB. It is not acceptable.”
Many other leaders spoke at the gathering including Naba Kumar Maran of Maran Students Union, former BJP leader Mira Barthakur, Ankuran Phukan of Ahom Sena, Durlabh Gohain of Moran Sabha, Paresh Malakar of Assam Civil Society, Prabin Das of Liqueur free Assam, Jayanta Gogoi of All Assam Development Council, Rubul Das of All Assam Scheduled Caste Students Youth Parishad, Jitul Deka of Assam Yuva Mancha, Mokbul Hussain of Assam Goriya Moriya Youth Students Councils, eminent lawyer Nekibur Zaman and many others.
Meanwhile, many others organizations including All Assam Students Union (AASU), Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), KMSS, Lachit Sena, Assam Sena and others organized such meetings and protests all over the state where thousands of youth students and general people attended. In the early morning several member of AJYCP organized a naked protest march at Chabua which is the home town of present Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal.
Even today, December 6, Left Democratic Mancha of Assam which consists of 10 political parties took out a protest march at Ambari area where several hundreds of people attended. Another massive protest was organized by Cotton University Students Union in the heart of Guwahati city where thousands of people including students, youths, artists, poets and intellectuals participated.
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