Situation in Assam will turn violent if CAB is implemented: KMSS

Guwahati: Protesters in large numbers led by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) — an influential farmer’s body of Assam — and several of its “like-minded” organisations carried out a massive sit-in demonstration in Dispur on Thursday following the decision of the Centre to move ahead with the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2019.

Protesters belonging to various civil bodies coming from all parts of the state, including Tai Ahom Sangram Samiti, Assam Adivasi Sangram Samiti and Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti, among others, joined the mass sit-in demonstration in Dispur on Thursday that went for almost four hours starting at 10 in the morning. Protesters belonging to KMSS and other organisations from Barak Valley districts of Assam also joined the mass sit-in demonstration against CAB.

Holding placards and shouting slogans against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre and the state, the protesters in stern voices made it clear that Assam will turn into a violent state and Assamese people will overthrow BJP and RSS from the state if the Centre passes the Bill to make it an Act.

Staying firm with their demands, the protesters strongly demanded that CAB should be scrapped totally as it is an unconstitutional, communal, illegal and immoral bill and will damage the existing democratic and secular status of the country.

Speaking with EastMojo on the sidelines of the sit-in demonstration, KMSS adviser Akhil Gogoi said that people of Assam will never accept the CAB as it is totally against the Indian Constitution and is cardinally based on religion.

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Pointing out to Union government’s decision to exempt CAB from Sixth Schedule and Inner Line Permit (ILP) areas of the Northeast, Gogoi alleged that the BJP government is spreading a false notion and trying to mislead people through it as the Bill on ground clearly states that it won’t overwrite the existing provisions provided in those areas.

Gogoi further revealed that the recently held Union home minister’s meeting with stakeholders of the state was not a fruitful one as it did not come with any conclusive solution.

The peasant leader also informed that KMSS along with other organisations has appealed to opposition parties of the country, including the Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and All India Trinamool Congress, among others, to oppose the contentious Bill till it gets removed.

“Even if they won’t be able to scrap CAB in the floor of Parliament due to lack of numbers, we will try to send the Bill back to a Joint Parliamentary Committee or a Standing Committee,” Gogoi said.