CAB: 12-hour bandh hits normal life across Assam

Correspondents

Morigaon: The 12-hour bandh called by Chutia organizations across the State on Monday in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed off peacefully in the district.

No sporadic incident took place during the bandh. Two wheelers and four wheelers remained off on the road. Besides, business establishments and private schools remained closed for the day. On the other hand, government offices remained open but attendance in the offices was poor as private buses did not ply on the road.

According to the president of Morigaon Chutia organization, Pranjal Saikia, “We protest against the implementation of CAB. If we do not get our ST status, we will continue our agitation.”

JORHAT: Along with the rest of the State, in Jorhat too protests against the Citizenship (Amendment Bill) continue. Activists of 20 organization came out on the streets to stage dharna.

Activists of Jorhat Press Club, Jorhat Congress Committee, All Assam Students’ Union, Lachit Sena and AJYCP marched through the main thoroughfares of Jorhat city and from in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, thousands of protesters carrying hangdung shouted anti-government slogans.

“The people will no way accept the Bill which is a big threat to the greater interest of the Assamese society,” said Niranjan Mahanta, social activist and president of Manab Adhikar Sangram Samitti, Jorhat district.

The 12-hour bandh called by Chutia Jati Students’ Union on Monday was total. All business establishments, banks, schools and colleges remained closed while the ongoing Class IX and Class X board exams were conducted smoothly at various centres, said Jorhat Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Nimbalkar.

DEMOW: The 12-hour Assam bandh called by the All Chutia Students’ Union on Monday in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was successful in Demow. All business establishments remained closed in Demow and vehicles did not ply on the road due to which normal life was paralyzed. The AASU and 30 ethnic organizations staged protest in Demow Chariali on Monday and burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Jorhat MP Tapan Kumar Gogoi and shouted various slogans against the BJP government. They strongly opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. No untoward incident took place during the bandh.

SIVASAGAR: Sivasagar wore a deserted look on Monday as the shutdown call given by All Assam Chutia Students’ Union and All Moran Students’ Union against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill evoked total response. Bandh supporters in large numbers took to the streets of Sivasagar town and its adjoining areas to register their protest by burning tyres. While voicing their anguish against the contentious CAB, the protestors also shouted anti-BJP, anti-Modi government and anti-Sonowal government slogans. The business community of the district also extended their support to the shutdown call. All business establishments and commercial institutions kept their shutters down on Monday in support of the bandh call. The ever busy Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) bus stand also wore a deserted look on Monday morning.

LAKHIMPUR: The 12-Assam bandh called by the All Assam Chutia Students’ Union opposing the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) on Monday was comprehensive in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts.

The people of both districts were seen extending their support to the anti-CAB movement initiated by the organization. Vehicles did not ply on the road and commercial institutions, except the essential services, were seen closed during the bandh hours. Though the government offices were open, attendance was poor. However, the annual examination in schools was held smoothly.

During the bandh, activists of the organization, led by Lakhimpur district president Jayanta Hazarika, general secretary Amrit Das and central committee vice-president Raju Chutia staged strong protest by burning tyres at multiple places on the NH-15 and other crucial roads of North Lakhimpur town along with Naoboicha, Laluk, Harmoti, Bihpuriya, Narayanpur, Boginadi Ghilamora and Dhakuakhana. The protesters rocked the environment by shouting slogans to demand immediate scrapping of the controversial Bill. They issued threats to intensify agitation against the Bill in the days to come.

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