Protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Sivasagar

Correspondents

Joysagar: The 11-hour Assam bandh that was called by the AASU passed off peacefully in Sivasagar district. Local markets, government offices, banks, post offices, schools, colleges and business establishments remain closed. Vehicles did not ply on the road. The Sivasagar and Nazira ONGC remained partially closed while some drilling rigs and other offices of the oil corporation were not affected by the bandh. Picketers burnt tyres in Sivasagar town and in the Sivasagar NH-37 areas.

Few picketers were picked up by the police from different parts of the town and released in the evening. In Sapekhati and Amguri, AASU activists blocked the railway tracks due to which many passengers and goods train had to stop in nearby stations. The Sivasagar District Joint Council of the left parties also demonstrated against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 on Monday evening and the leaders of the Left Joint Council held a street meeting in the historic town. Similarly, in Lakwa under Simaluguri PS, local bodies led by the Lakwa AJYCP staged protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The protesters also burnt the effigies of the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Chief Minister in front of the Lakwa daily market.

Kokrajhar: The 11-hour Assam bandh call given by 70 indigenous organizations of the State opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 evoked total response in Kokrajhar. All markets, shops and business establishments remained closed while government offices wore a deserted look. All kinds of vehicles were off the road. The bandh also hit Gossaigaon subdivision. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district. On the other hand, the AKRSU also called Assam bandh on Tuesday demanding ST status and Kamatapur state. Meanwhile, BTC Nath Yogi Students’ Union brought out a protest rally at Balajan Tiniali opposing the cabinet approval on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

JORHAT: Activists of 70 organizations stormed the streets of Jorhat that lead to the Deputy Commissioner’s office to demand scrapping of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. Hundreds of protesters came out to the main thoroughfare shouting slogans and said that the people of Assam would not tolerate if the Bill was passed as it would be a big threat to the indigenous people of Assam. During the protest meet it was also decided to boycott programmes of the BJP and AGP ministers, said Horin Mahanta, a social activist.

Also read: AASU, 30 other Organizations, NESO Call Assam Bandh on January 8