Image Courtesy: livewire.thewire.in
Pratidin Sangbad, November 27 reports at the growing unrest all over Assam. On November 18, union home minister Amit Shah declared in Parliament that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be implemented across the country, including in Assam (again). He also stated that that the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) would also be passed in the current session of Parliament.
Protests have broken out not just in Assam but all over the North East after these twin declarations, including the Barak Valley. The Barak Valley is largely populated by Bengali Hindu population in Assam and the area has been a fertile base in the past for the. The Barak Valley has 14 assembly constituency of which 9 are dominated by the BJP, 3 AIUDF and 2 by Congress. Out of 2 parliamentary constituencies both are with the by BJP at present. The CAB is all set to be passed targeting the Bengali Hindu voters. However, things are not that simple: the Bengali Hindu Voters of Barak Valley are not accepting the much-debated CAB, because of its nature.
On November 22, 2019, prominent peasantry organisations of Assam, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and many other outfits staged protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill and marched to Raj Bhawan in Guwahati, Assam. Before and after this protest march several other protest meetings have also been organised all over the state. In these protest meetings the attendees have shouted slogans against Modi Government with a demand to withdraw the bill. Akhil Gogoi even said that if the bill is passed then about 1.90 crore Hindu Bangladeshis will come to Assam leading to a demographic disturbance in the state.
On November 27, 2019 a massive protest was carrying out by KMSS, AAMSU and NESO in Hailakandi, Silchar. Not only in Brahmaputra valley but also in the Barak Valley all are carrying the protest for the nation and state. Under the leadership of AASU, the other organizations demonstrated in front of the collectorate at Hailakandi. The organisations were AASU, KMSS, SMSS, NESO etc. That morning, a huge number of members from various organisations gathered in Hailakandi, holding many placards against the bill. Amzad Hussain (president AASU in Hailakandi), general secretary, Mehbub Alom Choudhury, organising secretary, Surjit Sarma Majumdar, Saddam Hussain Laskar, advisor Naharujjaman Choudhury, panchayat president Uaidulla Barbhuyan, general secretary AAMSU, Fairuj Zaman, in Hailakandi expressed the view that if the Citizenship Amendment bill passed, Assam would become a grazing field of Bangladeshis. Over 90% people of the state are against the proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill. In the protest meeting various sections of people have participated, including a number of Bengali Hindus. The situation is proving embarrassing for local BJP leaders.
The news clipping may be read here:
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