Massive torch rally against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 across Assam

TANGLA: Along with other parts of the state the activists of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) along with 28 other indigenous organizations of State also took out a massive torchlight procession throughout Tangla town on Friday evening protesting against the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. A massive gathering of nearly 5,000 people from every walks of life irrespective of caste, community and religion spontaneously participated in the procession which started from Tangla H.S playgound and passed through the main thoroughfares of the town via Tangla Tinali which culminated at Kukurakata area. The protesters rented the air with high pitched slogans.

The programme organized by Tangla Anchalik AASU was addressed by its president Pranjal Deka, Udalguri chapter General Secretary, Md. Saiful Haque and assistant general secretary AASU, Jayanta Kumar Bhattacharjya. The speakers termed the bill an attempt to destroy the identity of the indigenous people of the State. “It is a threat to our State and region. We oppose the bill tooth and nail and we challenge the government to withdraw it immediately,” said Md. Saiful Haque. “The present attempt of the Central government to extend citizenship beyond the cut-off date of March 24, 1971 is not acceptable because the State of Assam is already overburdened with huge influx of foreign nationals from Bangladesh causing serious economic, social stress and identity crisis posing threat to the existence of indigenous communities of Assam” said Jayanta Bhattacharjya.

LAKHIMPUR: As per the initiative taken by All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and 28 indigenous organizations of the State, all the regional committees of AASU under Lakhimpur district unit demonstrated torch light march demanding the immediate scrapping of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The activists of the organizations in association with the people shouted slogans against the controversial Bill and BJP led Union government as well as State government. The North Lakhimpur regional unit of the organization initiated the protest in North Lakhimpur town while Telahi Kamalaboria Regional unit staged it at Panigaon. Similarly, the protest was organized in Narayanpur, Bihpuriya, Harmutty, Laluk, Nowboicha, Boginadi Dhakuakhona, Ghilamora etc.

DEMOW: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Demow Regional Committee along with other local organizations of Demow, senior citizens and women took out a torch rally throughout Demow area on Friday evening in protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.Demow Regional Committee activists shouted various slogans against the Centre and State government.

DOOMDOOMA: All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Doomdooma regional committee, brought out a torch light procession against Citizenship (Ammendment) Bill, 2016 on Friday evening and paraded along the main thoroughfares of the town by shouting slogans like ‘Down with BJP Government’, ‘ No politicisation of Religion’, ‘Immediately scrap the Citizenship (Ammendment) Bill etc. Later they assembled near Gandhmurti in the heart of the town and several AASU leaders addressed the gathering. In their speech they vehemently opposed the Citizenship (Ammendment) Bill.

Bokajan: The All Assam Students’ Union, Bokajan regional committee along with 28 other indigenous organisation on Friday organized a massive torch light rally at Bokajan to condemn the BJP led NDA government’s move to grant citizenship to illegal Hindu Bangladeshi migrants by implementing the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016. The protesters also warned the BJP-led state government from indulging in anti-peoples activities and divide the peoples on the lines of religion. Over 200 members of various ethnic organisation took part in the rally. The protesters demonstrated placards and shouted slogans against the BJP led government in the centre and demanded that the controversial bill be scrapped immediately. The protesters also demanded constitutional safeguard on the basis of the Assam Accord signed between the representatives of GOI and the leaders of Assam movement in 1985.

Briefing the mediapersons, AASU Central Executive Member Bedanta Saikia flayed Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for defying the emotions and sentiments of the indegenious peoples after coming to power with false promise of safeguarding “Jati, Mati & Bheti”.

Dhekiajuli: The Dhekiajuli unit of AASU on Friday at 5.30 pm brought out a huge torch rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. More than two thousands protesters under the banner of Dhekiajuli unit of AASU led by its president Shankar Das and Nitul Borah, the general secretary Sonitpur District unit of AASU took part in the protest march. Youths from 27 ethnic organizations took part in the march which started from Swahid Moidan Dhekiajuli and moved through the NH-15.

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