AASU ups the ante against Citizenship Bill, stages road blockades

CORRESPONDENTS

LAKHIMPUR: Continuing protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the Lakhimpur unit of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) blocked the NH-15 at Hatilung near North Lakhimpur town on Tuesday demanding the scrapping of the contentious Bill. Staging the agitation programme, the organization at the same time strongly protested against the attack on AASU members by BJP activists at Ghagrapar in Nalbari on Sunday. Eight regional units of AASU under Lakhimpur district committee burnt the effigies of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and State BJP president Ranjit Dass on Monday to protest against the same incident.

The activists of AASU blocked the national highway for an hour from 12 am to 1 pm, defying the district administration’s request to withdraw the blockade which brought traffic to a standstill on the busy highway. “The Narendra Modi government has stirred communal politics in Assam and the Sarbananda Sonowal government wants to impose the Bill forcefully only to stay in power, thus making a mockery of the democratic ideology of the nation. We will never approve of the Bill because aliens cannot be discriminated based on religion,” declared Lakhimpur AASU president Pulok Jyoti Borah and secretary Dhanmoni Dutta while leading the protest.

PATHSALA: The All Barpeta district Students’ Union (AASU) on Tuesday staged a strong protest and blocked the NH-31 at Pathsala traffic point in Barpeta district. The protest was staged to demand scrapping of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and against the assault on AASU activists by BJP workers in Nalbari police station on Sunday. AASU activists came out in large numbers and shouted slogans against the BJP government and demanded immediate arrest of the BJP workers who allegedly attacked the AASU activists in Nalbari. Samudra Patgiri, secretary of Barpeta district AASU, informed that today’s protest was staged as per the directive of the central committee.

Bongaigaon: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) Chirang district committee staged an hour-long highway blockade in NH-31 at Sialmari in Chirang district on Tuesday to protest against the Nalbari incident and to demand scrapping of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Several activists took part in this programme.

Dibrugarh: As part of the State-wide one-hour road blockade called by AASU on Tuesday following the alleged attack on AASU members by BJP-sponsored activists and the police at Ghagrapar, Nalbari, a blockade was observed here too at Convoy Road from 11 am to 12 pm. The blockade brought life to a standstill as the situation led to traffic congestion. Moreover, protests against CAB are on a rise these days. Members of various associations have started sensitizing the villagers about the Bill and its alleged harmful consequences if it were to become an Act.

NAGAON: Nagaon district unit of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) staged a road blockade against the recent attack on AASU activists in Nalbari by some BJP workers when the activists showed black flag to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at Uriagaon bypass Chariali. Hundreds of agitators blocked the NH-37 road for over an hour. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded and this lead to traffic congestion on the NH-37 road.

Golaghat: Golaghat police set up barricade in several entry points to Golaghat town to resist the protest of the Golaghat District Students’ Union against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which crippled the normal movement of people on Tuesday. Golaghat Students’ Union along with several organizations staged a strong protest at Bata point of Golaghat town to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019. In the meantime, Golaghat police administration deployed large number of security personnel and set up barricades in several entry points of Golghat town to resist the protest. This caused inconvenience for the people of the town for more than five hours.

Despite the resistance by police, activists of the students’ union and members of various organizations gathered at the specified place and staged a massive protest against the controversial bill. Addressing the gathering, AASU central committee chief organizing secretary Raju Phukan slammed former AASU leaders Sarbananda Sonowal and Tapan Gogoi for their shameless activities towards the indigenous people of Assam.

GAURISAGAR: The AASU Sivasagar District Committee on Tuesday blocked NH-37 at Gaurisagar Tiniali in Sivasagar district from 12 pm to 1 pm in protest against atrocities on AASU activists by a section of BJP activists and Assam Police on Sunday in Nalbari. Thousands of AASU activists from 27 regional committees across the district and local people strongly protested against the brutal torture by BJP activists. The programme was led by Sarat Hazarika, AASU education secretary. He told mediapersons that the State Government did not dare to face the democratic protest by AASU. Hence BJP workers and Assam Police brutally tortured AASU activists in Nalbari district. The AASU has warned the Sarbanonda Sonowal-led Assam Government to fulfil the electoral assurance to protect jati, mati and bheti.

Also read: All Assam Students’ Union Protests Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill