Protests against the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) erupted across Assam on Tuesday with demonstrators burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and copies of the law.
The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) burnt effigies of the prime minister and the home minister in Lakhimpur while the Congress and CPI (M) staged demonstrations in various parts of the state, including Guwahati and Kamrup.
Led by Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia, Congress workers protested in front of the state headquarters in Guwahati and burnt copies of the Act.
The CPI (M) also held demonstrations against the Act in Kamrup’s Rangia town. Additionally, students from different colleges organised protests outside their institutions in the city.
The Assam Police issued notices to Opposition parties with an ultimatum to withdraw the hartal (strike) call against the implementation of the CAA, or face legal action.
Criticising the police action, Debabrata Saikia denounced the state police department’s interference in the matter, alleging bias in favour of the BJP Government.
In Sonitpur, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was imposed, prohibiting public meetings, demonstrations, processions, and sloganeering to prevent unrest. Patrolling was intensified, and check-posts were set up on main roads across cities and towns where protests occurred in 2019.
Meanwhile, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and 30 other non-political indigenous organisations planned torchlight processions in the evening, followed by a satyagraha starting Wednesday. A delegation from AASU traveled to New Delhi to pursue legal action against the Act in the Supreme Court, with leaders expected to return soon.