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The organization keeps a close eye on ‘Khelo India’ & T-20; announces series of agitation till January 14, 2020
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will face massive protests if he arrives here on the occasion of ‘Khelo India’ set to commence here from January 10, 2020, warned the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). The organization is also keeping a close eye on the T-20 cricket match slated here on January 5, 2020. Further, the AASU leaders have challenged Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Cabinet Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to make public the source of their varied claims on the number of Hindu Bangladeshis who might get citizenship. The AASU has also warned that pressures will be mounted on the representatives of people for scrapping the new Citizenship Act.
These viewpoints of the apex students’ organization of the State were expressed while addressing the media here on Sunday. AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said, “Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already acknowledged that Northeast India, including Assam will be the worst affected after the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act)-2019 is implemented. Against this backdrop, the Government of India must immediately scrap the Citizenship Act-2019.”
Referring to the varied numbers of Hindu Bangladeshis who might get citizenship in the post-CAA phase as quoted by the State government on two occasions, the AASU leader stated, “Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal claims that very few Hindu Bangladeshis will be benefitted; however, his Cabinet Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has quoted 5 lakh. They must have taken the NRC (National Register of Citizens) as their source. However, the Supreme Court has already barred the sharing of the NRC data. Hence, we challenge the State government to make public their source of such claims.”
Blaming the State government for the recent police firing on peaceful anti-CAA protestors in Assam, he said, “The government has lost the moral right to speak of peace after killing innocent persons. Peace will not prevail through padayatras (processions); peace will be ensured only when the CAA-2019 is scrapped.”
AASU president Dipanko Kumar Nath, announcing the next phase of the anti-CAA movement by AASU and 30 ethnic organizations, said, “Protest rallies and processions will continue. On December 31, 2019, we appeal to each member of every family to take the pledge by oneself to oppose the CAA. We have also lent our support to the agitation programme of the Sadou Asom Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) on December 31.
“The very first day of the new year (2020) will be marked with ‘Bonti prajwalan’ (lighting of earthen oil lamps) in each locality across the State in memories of the martyrs of the anti-CAA movement. On January 3, torchlight rallies will be taken out in all the district and sub-divisional headquarters. On January 9, ‘Ranaxinga’ (War bugle) will be sounded at public places across the State where masses will use musical instruments like the ‘bartal’ (large cymbals), ‘shangkha’ (conch), ‘ghanta’ (brass bells), and ‘nagara’ (large bowl-shaped drum) among others to voice their protests against the CAA. On January 11, torchlight processions will be taken out.
“We also appeal the people of Assam to set copies of CAA-2019 afire on the occasions of ‘Uruka’ and ‘Magh Bihu’ (January 13, and January 14, 2020) respectively.”
Speaking at the press meet, AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said, “The government is trying to confuse the people by quoting varied numbers of foreigners who might get citizenship following the CAA-2019. However, the fact remains that Assam will not take the burden of even a single foreigner!”