Guwahati: Fight against the discriminatory CAA is only increasing by the day with the All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) threatening to organize a massive protest if the PM Modi comes to inaugurate the Khelo India Games in Guwahati on January 10.
The threat has created tension among the organizers while the Aasu leadership told reporters: “We are keeping a close watch on the two ensuing megaevents — the T20 match between India and Sri Lanka on January 5 and Khelo India Games from January 10 to 22,” DC reported.
The student union leaders refrained from elaborating on action plan but made it very clear once they receive the news of PM visit they shall reveal their plan.
Aasu president, Dipankar Kumar Nath, said, “We will share our plan of action soon after getting confirmation of Mr Modi’s visit. The Prime Minister is likely to visit Assam for the first time since the time the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was passed. On his visit, he will face a massive protest when the anguished people give vent to their ire.”
The Aasu leaders have asserted the agitation will remain in action unless the contentious Act was repealed.
Aasu chief adviser, Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, said the union is keeping a close watch on the Centre’s attempts to deviate the attention of people from the movement.
“We are keeping a close watch on both sports extravaganzas that will be hosted here,” he said. On what he meant by ‘close watch’, Mr Bhattacharya said, “We will inform in due course of time.”
“This region has faced serious problems of infiltration from Bangladesh, which poses a threat to the identity and culture of the indigenous people. It is more glaring when one looks at the indigenous people of Tripura. Of the 40 lakh population, only 12 lakh are indigenous people, while, the original Kokborok language is no longer the State language of Tripura. If we allow more Bangladeshi nationals to come to Assam, the condition of the indigenous people of Assam will be similar to the situation that prevails in Tripura,” Mr Bhattacharya said.
If the infiltrators are given citizenship there would be a serious threat to the Assamese language and other ethnic groups he said, adding that the previous Census showed only 48 percent of the total state population were Assamese speaking people.
If infiltrators are given citizenship, there would be a serious threat to the language and other ethnic groups.
The contentious CAA is not applicable in the Sixth Schedule areas and those covered under the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS), the valley areas will turn dumping grounds for Bangladeshi nationals, he said.
“We do not differentiate foreigners on the basis of their religion. As per the Assam Accord, all foreigners who are here after the midnight of March 24, 1971 must be detected and deported, irrespective of their religion,” he added.
The Aasu chief also said the PM should remember that no State has taken the burden of a large number of foreigners as Assam has done.