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LAKHIMPUR: Black smog of burning tyres on the streets and reverberation of repeated slogans against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) and its patron governments at the Centre and the State marked the environment in Lakhimpur district on Tuesday during the 11-hour long bandh called by North East Students’ Organization (NESO) opposing the controversial Bill.
Continuing the relentless protest against the Bill for the safeguard of the State and the Assamese community, its culture and literature, the activists of Lakhimpur district unit of All Assam Students’ Union kept the district rocking with massive protest programmes reiterating the demand to scrap the Bill and strongly opposing the passing of the same in the Lower House of the Parliament (Lok Sabha) on Monday. Extending full support to the NESO bandh, the activists of the organization staged protest by burning tyres at multiple places on the NH-15 and other crucial roads under North Lakhimpur town along with Dhalpur, Narayanpur, Bihpuriya, Kherajkhat, Banderdewa, Harmoti, Laluk, Naoboicha, Panigaon, Boginadi, Ghilamora and Dhakuakhana.
The common masses also spontaneously joined in the protest programmes shouting slogans demanding the scrapping of the Bill and slamming the Union and State governments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for not paying the slightest attention to the sentiments and greater interest of the Assamese community and the agitation programmes staged by the multiple organizations of the State against the CAB. The protesting organizations and the common protesters demanded the MPs of the Upper House of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) not to pass the Bill.
On the other hand, the district AASU observed Swahid Divas (Martyrs’ Day) on Tuesday commemorating Khargeswar Talukdar, the first martyr of the Anti-Foreigners Movement of Assam that took place in the eighth decade of the last century. In the event, which began with lighting of earthen lamps in the revered memory of the martyr at the Swahid Bedi premises of North Lakhimpur town, AASU members administered Rakta Sankalpa (Vow with Blood). These protesters engraved banners and scripts with their blood by cutting their palms.
The AASU activists further gheraoed the residence of Lakhimpur AGP MLA Utpal Dutta, expressing vehement grievances against him for his attitude regarding the CAB. The protesters administered their protest in front of the district BJP offices as well as Main Chariali of North Lakhimpur along with many other places of the town by burning tyres and shouting slogans against the CAB and both governments and BJP ministers and MPs. Several AASU activists took out protest rallies in the presence of common people across the town.
The Lakhimpur AASU expressed strong reaction against the statement made by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal allegedly ridiculing the anti-CAB movement on Monday. The organization warned him not to make mockery of the agitation programme staged by the AASU against CAB.
“The Chief Minister should not forget his past life. He built his career on the floor of AASU and staging movements and chanting the name of Assam Accord and Anti-Foreigners’ Movement of the State. Now he has ridiculed himself by criticizing the AASU and anti-CAB movement for the greed of power by ignoring the greater interest of the State,” said Lakhimpur AASU general secretary Dhanmoni Dutta, reacting to the Chief Minister’s statement.
On the other hand, the bandh called by NESO was quite comprehensive in the district. The common people of the district also registered their protest against the Bill. The protesters blocked the North Lakhimpur-Kamalabari connecting road by burning tyres and binding bamboo bars at Kapauhowa on the Somdiri river bridge. Similarly, people staged protest demanding the scrapping of the Bill on NH-15 at Maidamia and on the Lilabari Airport Road at Nakari and other places. While a section of people took part in the protest programmes, the rest were seen carrying out the bandh spontaneously.
Haflong: The 11-hour Northeast bandh called by the North East Students’ Organization (NESO) and supported by many organizations, including ADSU, DWS, DMA and NCHISF, in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) was total and peaceful in Dima Hasao on Tuesday.
Normal life in Haflong was affected due to the bandh as vehicles remained off the road and all business establishments, markets and banks remained closed. Government and semi-government offices remained closed except the offices of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police. Train services remain unaffected and the district administration arranged vehicles to ferry train passengers from New Haflong Station. No untoward incident has been reported so far.
David Keivom, president of NCHISF, said they had extended their support to the bandh while expressing concern over the government’s move of establishing detention camp in the district.
Prithiviraj Hojai, general secretary ofAll Dimasa Students’ Union, while offering heartfelt thanks to the people of Dima Hasao for supporting their bandh call, said the government should review CAB immediately so that no organization would be compelled to go for such agitation in future.
MORIGAON: The 11-hour bandh called by NESO and supported by the AASU and various other organizations, passed off peacefully in Morigaon town except for three incidents of tyre burning and two scuffles.
AASU activists came out in large numbers and gathered in Morigaon town. They stopped two wheelers from plying on the road. Two bike riders disobeyed the stop signal by the activists and this lead to scuffle. On the other hand, AASU activists burnt tyres at Morigaon police point, Mayabazer police point and Dalbari while opposing the CAB.
Bandh supporters also burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the main police point. Business establishments remained closed during the bandh. Government offices were open but attendance was poor. Government schools remained open for examination while private schools remained closed for the day.
GOALPARA: Defying Section 144 of CrPC promulgated by the district administration on Monday night, thousands of activists of AASU, Goriya Moriya Jatiya Parishad and other organizations came out on the streets to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill during the 11-hour bandh called by NESO on Tuesday.
During the protest, a vehicle of an electronic media journalist was accidently targeted in the Bhalukdubi area. Bandh supporters pelted stones which broke the rear side glass of the vehicle. Around 200 bandh supporters clad in black clothes moved throughout Goalpara town to ensure that the bandh was a success.
TANGLA: The 11-hour Northeast bandh evoked full response in entire Udalguri district on Tuesday. The bandh brought normal life to a standstill as business establishments remained shut. Commercial and private vehicles remained off the road causing trouble to commuters. Bandh was total in areas like Khoirabari, Paneri, Tangla, Dimakuchi, Kalaigaon, Udalguri, Rowta, Orang and Mazbat.
The activists of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and 29 other ethnic organizations, along with citizens blocked the 15816 Dekargaon-Kamakhya Intercity Express train for 40 minutes at Tangla railway station to register their protest. Meanwhile, protesters also burnt tyres at various parts of Udalguri district, including Tangla and Harisinga.
Assistant general secretary of AASU, Jayanta Kumar Bhattacharya said, “We vehemently oppose the Bill which is a sheer conspiracy to turn the indigenous people into minority by granting citizenship to illegal Hindu immigrants. We will never accept the Bill and will fight till our last breath.”
Tangla chapter AASU president Pranjal Deka said, “If the Bill is implemented in the State the turmoil will be catastrophic with much larger intensity and magnitude than the historic Assam Movement.” Barring few incidents of scuffle between bandh protesters and traders, the bandh was peaceful and had a hard-hitting impact throughout Udalguri district. Paramiltary forces were heavily guarding the townships of the district to thwart untoward incident during the bandh hours.
SARUPATHAR: The members of several student unions and the public of Dhansiri subdivision under Golaghat district staged a massive protest on Tuesday at Barpathar town in protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The demonstrators also burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and warned the BJP-led Assam government not to indulge in anti-people activities.
Almost 2,000 protesters shouted various slogans against the CAB and BJP government and demanded immediate withdrawal of CAB. The activists also threatened that there should be no tinkering with the Assam Accord.
Meanwhile, the activists of different organizations, including those of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS) and All Tai-Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU), as well as general public protested against CAB at Barpathar in Dhansiri subdivision on Tuesday.
Biswanath Chariali: The Bandh called by NESO was peaceful and normal in Biswanath district on Tuesday. All the business establishments, shops, banks, post offices, government offices, schools, colleges etc remained closed throughout the day. Plying of vehicles on the NH 15 and on the other roads was totally stopped. The supporters of the bandh burnt tyres at several places on the roads in the district. They also shouted slogans against the governments and also against the introduction of the Bill. A section of agitators shouted slogans against Biswanath MLA Pramod Borthakur in front of his home at Kochgaon, here. However, police managed to chase away the agitators. The bandh was total in others parts of the district including Chatiya, Borgang, Behali, Halem, Gohpur and Kalabari. Police apprehended some picketers at one or two places.