Assam: Thousands hit Tinsukia streets against CAA, markets closed

Tinsukia: Thousands of protesters took out a massive rally from Sripuria to Tinkonia via Thana Charali in Assam’s Tinsukia town on Monday afternoon.

A massive rally was also taken out at Panitola where more than 15,000 protestors from nearby villages, dressed in traditional attire, walked on National Highway 37 to protest against the contentious Act. Protesters raised slogans against the BJP government and rejected the Act in a unified voice.

Meanwhile, Tinsukia remained cut off from all types of Internet, including broadband, on Monday despite minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, during a press conference in Guwahati, confirming that it would not be prohibited.

On the other hand, a majority of the business establishments and wholesale markets remained closed for the eighth day in a row, after partially opening for few hours on Sunday. In neighbouring Dibrugarh, the markets remained opened throughout the day.

Meanwhile, in Tinsukia, the rally culminated at Tinkonia traffic point where a public meeting was held for over an hour blocking the main road.

Addressing the gathering, assistant general secretary (central committee) of All Tai Ahom Students’ Union Milon Buragohain said, “We demand unconditional release of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) advisor Akhil Gogoi who has been arrested for protesting against CAA.”

“The government has prohibited internet. We want to say that there was no Facebook and WhatsApp during Assam Andolan,” Buragohain said, adding: “The protest will grow louder and louder.”

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He said that the government is trying to give our protest a communal colour showing that we are against Bengali community. “We want to clarify from this forum that our protest is not against any community and caste. Our protest is only against illegal migrants, be it Muslims or Hindus.”

“Sonowal wants to remain chief minister for years and years and so he is supporting the move to legalise illegal migrants,” he claimed.

Buragohain appealed the protesters to teach BJP a lesson in 2021. “Remember our finger which we are raising today in support of protest. In 2021, we have to use this finger to chase away Sonowal — today’s khalnayak (villain) of Assam,” he said.

Pratap Moran, assistant general secretary of All Moran Students’ Organisation, said, “Aami moribole jaanu, maaribole jaanu (we know to die and to beat).”

“We all have gathered here to fight for our identity, culture and community,” district president of AASU Binoy Dubey said.

The leaders requested all to gather at a Jan Jagaran protest to be organised in Tinsukia on Tuesday.