CAA will grant citizenship to 1.9 cr Hindu Bangladeshis in Assam: Akhil Gogoi

Speaking to the media during his visit to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital in Guwahati, the peasant leader said, "If CAA is implemented in Assam, as many as 1.90 crore Hindu Bangladeshis would get citizenship, which would be a big issue for the people of the state. Therefore, we have to fight against CAA, we will have to repeal this controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act. If we cannot do that, we would not be able to live."

He further said that his aim at this point is to ensure that the BJP is dethroned in 2021 and a resolution against CAA is passed in the next Assam Cabinet that would be formed by a non-BJP, non-AIUDF political dispensation after the state elections next year.

He exuded confidence that he would be released from jail later this month.

A year ago in 2019, on this day (December 11), the Parliament had passed the draconian CAA, and five youths were martyred during the anti-CAA movement. KMSS leader Gogoi also conveyed his condolences to the family members of all those who lost their lives during the protests.

Gogoi has been kept at the Guwahati jail for the past 11 months after he was arrested on December 12 last year for his alleged role in violence during the anti-CAA protests.

Anti-CAA protests are on in different parts of the state and protesters have been stating continuously that they would stage more violent protests in the future if the government does not repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act soon.

The North East Students' Organisation (NESO) on December 9 had announced in a statement that it would observe 'Black Day' on December 11 by displaying black flags and black banners at important locations across the Northeast states as on this day in 2019, the Parliament had passed the draconian CAA.