'CAA Is Threat To Identity Of Assamese People': Oppn Protests Ahead Of PM Modi's Assam Visit

The United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), consisting of 16 members, organised the protest, with support from various opposition parties. The Protest coincides with the PM Modi's arrival in Assam.

New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival in Assam on Friday on a two-day visit, opposition parties staged a protest in Kaliabor in Nagaon district against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The sit-in was held near Kaziranga in the Nagaon district, where the PM was scheduled to spend the night after arriving in the state.

The United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), consisting of 16 members, organised the protest, with support from various opposition parties. Akhil Gogoi, spokesperson for UOFA and chief of Raijor Dal, mentioned that the protest, originally planned for Saturday but was later rescheduled to Friday at the request of Ahom community organizations, reported news agency PTI.

While speaking to reporters at the protest site, Akhil Gogoi, said, "that the demonstration was moved up a day earlier at the request of the Ahom community. This change was made to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unveiling of a statue honoring Ahom general Lachit Borphukan.

CAA Is Threat To Identity Of Assamese People, Says Akhil Gogoi

The Raijor Dal chief maintained that "The CAA is a threat to the identity of the Assamese people, and they will continue protesting it", as quoted by PTI.

Meanwhile, State Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah, who joined the demonstration, asserted that the government cannot suppress their voices. He mentioned that they had requested a meeting with the PM to apprise him of the opposition to the CAA in the state, but they are still awaiting a response from his office.

Debabrata Saikia, another senior Congress leader, also mentioned that protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will persist. "The government can use all tactics and power to suppress us. But the people are firm in their opposition to the CAA and we will continue with our protests", the leader of the opposition in the state assembly added, as quoted by PTI.

The United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), along with 30 other groups, organisations had earlier announced holding protests to oppose the CAA. The act grants Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, after residing in the country for five years.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had previously stated that the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would be notified and enforced before the Lok Sabha polls. In response, the United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), announced plans for a statewide bandh on the day following the implementation of the contentious act.

Additionally, they proposed to 'gherao' the Janata Bhawan (the secretariat). The UOFA further submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, expressing their intention to launch a democratic mass movement across the state if the CAA is not repealed.

The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and 30 other groups organised motorcycle rallies across the state on Thursday to protest against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). These organisations announced plans to light lamps before the portraits of five youths who were killed in police firing during anti-CAA protests in 2019, as a mark of remembrance on Friday.

The state of Assam had experienced widespread protests following the passage of the CAA by the Rajya Sabha on December 11, 2019. The protests escalated into clashes between demonstrators and security forces, prompting the administration to impose curfews in several towns and cities.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged those opposing the CAA to seek redressal of their grievances through the Supreme Court rather than resorting to further agitations.