Will never compromise with Citizenship (Amendment) Bill at any cost, says AASU
A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: The entire environment of Lakhimpur district, from Dhalpur to Dhakuakhana, rocked with comprehensive anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) agitation initiated by the All Assam Students’ Union on Friday in association with 30 ethnic organizations of the State. Throngs of common masses were also seen extending their support to the anti-CAB movements initiated by the largest students’ organization of the State.
The Lakhimpur district unit of AASU has intensified the anti-CAB movements in the district in the wake of the Union Cabinet approving the contentious Bill on Wednesday ignoring the sentiments and protest programmes initiated by various organizations with the support of people, not only of the State but also of the entire North-Easter region. Regarding the issue, all the regional committees under the Lakhimpur district AASU, synchronizing with the initiative undertaken by the central committee of the organization, demonstrated various protest programmes on Friday in their respective jurisdiction opposing the alleged adamant moves of the Union government to pass the controversial Bill in the running winter session of the Parliament.
The activists of the North Lakhimpur regional unit of AASU demonstrated bikshobh in North Lakhimpur in support of the 30 ethnic organizations and common people. The protester took out a protest rally from the ‘Swahid Bedi’ premises covering the North Lakhimpur. Then they demonstrated in front of the Lakhimpur DC office for hours. The protester rocked the environment by shouting slogans with robust notes of Sankha (conch) expressing vehement resentment over the issue and against the Union Government’s moves and State government’s support to pass the Bill.
By staging the protest, led by president Pranjit Gogoi and general secretary Punamjyoti Burhagohain, the organizations slammed Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora and Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta for their devoted support to the CAB which is considered as the tremendous threat to the demography of the State and its culture, language and literature. The organization termed these four political personalities as the ‘stigma of the Assamese community’ regarding the issue.
Taking part in the stir, Lakhimpur AASU president Pulok Jyoti Borah and General secretary Dhanmaoni Dutta said, “We will never compromise with the CAB at any cost. It must be scrapped to save Assam and the Assamese community as well as the spirit of Indian democracy and Assam Accord.”
In addition to North Lakhimpur regional unit, the Phoolbari, Laluk, Chaoldhowa, Boginadi, Kadam, Dhalpur, Gilamora and Dhakuakhana regional units of AASU under Lakhimpur district committee also organized similar protest opposing the CAB. The activists of the Phoolbari regional unit campaigned against the Bill initiating a bike rally in the entire area.
Similarly, the activists of the Bihpuriya and Harmoti regional units staged torchlight rally on Friday evening demanding the immediate scrap of the Bill. The respective units of the thirty ethnic organizations extended their full supports to these protest programmes initiated by AASU. The dignitaries of these organizations also reiterated their demands to the Union government to scrap the Bill or to face with more intensified agitation programmes in Future.
On the other hand, the Lakhimpur district unit of Tai-Ahom Yuba Chatra Sanmilan, Asom also staged torchlight rally in North Lakhimpur on Friday evening demanding scrapping of the Bill.