Eighteen organisations have started agitations on Friday demanding rollback of Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) as well as demanding the release of its arrested leader.
The mass agitations, which were going on in Assam from Dec 12, 2019, had been withdrawn temporarily, keeping the Covid pandemic in mind.
On Friday, 18 organisations came together to resume the protests, which they have named "Gooma Hoonkar." Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, All Assam Students Union (AASU), Lachit Sena, Chatra Parishad, Asom Jatiyathabadi Yuba and several other students and youth organisations of ethnic communities started their agitations in Shivsagar. The anti CAA protests had incidentally begun from last year's same place, the same day.
Several leaders like KMSS founder Akhil Gogoi were arrested during the previous protests, and the release of these leaders was also demanded.
The protestors are up against the influx of immigrants from Bangladesh, to whom the Government of India will award Indian citizenship. This would take away the rights of the ethnic community they fear.
With assembly elections due in April next year, the agitations are going to intensify. The ruling BJP will have to face the anger of these communities if CAA is not repealed.
Other than the political angle, the law and order scenario will be worse in the state. The state, which was earlier known for much ethnic violence and insurgency, is fuming. The volcano may erupt at any time and will go beyond the control of state administration.
The Centre and State governments need to keep an extra eye on the agitations before it spirals beyond their reach.
