AASU Satyagraha: 4000 people from various communities extend support to protests

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Satyagraha against CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act)-2019 led by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) entered its third and final day with the support of people from every walk of life irrespective of organizations and communities. Following a ceasework called by the Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP), members of various employees unions too extended their support to the protest against the CAA.

On the third day too, the agitators rent the air with the slogan – Hoi CAA baatil korok nohole amaak greftaar korok (either scrap the CAA or arrest us). Agitators from the Sikh, Marwari, Bhojpuri and other Hindi-speaking communities of the Assamese society appealed to the Central government to read the writing on the wall and scrap the new Citizenship Act.

Talking to The Sentinel, Rajbir Singh, the president of the Assamese Sikh Sanstha said, “We’ll never accept the CAA which the Central government is imposing on us in an unconstitutional way. As an indigenous community of Assam, we’re here today to protest against the Act. Our movement will continue till the Act is scrapped. The Assamese Sikh society has come out in every part of the State. Our appeal to the government is to not disturb the harmony of our motherland”. Addressing the agitators earlier, AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said that the protests against the CAA will continue in a disciplined and non-violent way. Bhattacharya said, “The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to reply by showing reasons, as to why the CAA shouldn’t be scrapped. Our legal battle will continue.”

AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said, “People from every walk of life have come out spontaneously from every village and city. All of them have realized that the Act will snap the thread of social harmony that we share. Only emotion is not linked with our movement but truth as well. Truth is truth; number can never cover the truth. They can’t impose anything upon us by showing the power of number in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.”

“Oppression can never stop our movement. As their oppressive policy couldn’t bring them any outcome they’re now starting the politics of luring the masses. Announcing 55,000 jobs is a joke as the government couldn’t even appoint 1,000 persons in the APDCL. As, the artistes have also joined the agitation they’re now trying to lure them by announcing them grants. However, no temptation and oppression will be able to stop the voice of the public,” Gogoi added.

When asked about the government’s offer, popular artiste Manash Robin said that the artistes’ fraternity will discuss the issue during their protest demonstration at Chandmari here on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the government employees under the banner of the Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) too joined the satyagraha as the organization had announced ceasework for the day. Among the government employees’ organizations that participated in the satyagraha on Wednesday are the APSC Employees’ Association, All Assam Central Semi-Central Employees’ Parishad, Guwahati Jila Karmachari Parishad, IMA (Assam) and the Assam Mahila Karmachari Parishad. SAKP president Bashab Kalita said, “The Karmachari Parishad appealed to all the officers and workers to stage protest against the CAA. Hence, everyone is here today. Our protest will continue.”

It is to be noted that the specially-abled persons under the banner of the ‘Assam Association of the Deaf’ also registered their protest in a unique way; they used the medium of mime during the satyagraha. Like the last two days of the satyagraha, the satyagrahis were detained and kept in the temporary jail for some time on Wednesday.

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