Hundreds participate in ‘Ranasinga’ against CAA at Guwahati Club

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Hundreds of people from various walks of life participating in the ‘Ranasinga’ (war bugle) programme at the Sahityarathi Rasaraj Lakshminath Bezbaruah Chowk, Guwahati Club here on Thursday, played various ethnic musical instruments to express their staunch opposition to the new CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act). The Statewide programme was organized by the AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) along with 30 ethnic organizations.

AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya addressing the massive gathering said, “This movement is being firmly supported by all the indigenous people of Assam with their strong resolve to protect their future which can be possible only by scrapping the Citizenship Act. We respect our high command — the common masses!” This he stated as a reply to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s recent remark that the anti-CAA movement in Assam is being backed by the Congress and the Left parties.

Pointing out that “many former Congress leaders are now with the BJP”, the AASU leader added, “The masses very much know the typical character of political parties.” Warning “the political leaders not to point fingers at this spontaneous movement of the indigenous people”, Bhattacharya said, “Don’t play politics with us! Else, the masses will give you a fitting reply.” The AASU leader also appealed to the masses to burn copies of the CAA in the mejis (bonfires) during the ensuing Magh Bihu. He further blamed the Central government for the violence in the premises of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi.

AASU president Dipanko Kumar Nath said, “The Government is misleading the people with regards to CAA. They are saying that there have been no protests against CAA in Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and BTAD areas. But that is because these areas fall under the Sixth Schedule, and are thus outside the ambit of CAA. How can they make such irresponsible comments?”

Appealing for peaceful demonstrations, social activist Deven Dutta said that “the anti-CAA protestors must not give any chance to the authorities to subdue them.”

Popular artiste Zubin Garg said, “The larger Assamese society will always remain together and unitedly carry on the various forms of protests against CAA.”

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