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CITIZENSHIP

come to the streets raising voices the new party. Later AIUDF supremo would not be harmful for the people of
against the CAA as they apprehend Badrauddin Ajmal also extended sup- Assam and northeast India. They also
that it would destroy their language ports to the party so that the saffron alleged that the Congress leaders were
and culture. They would not digest the party could be challenged in the com- trying to manipulate the anti-CAA stir
arguments for making the CAA secular ing State and general elections. for their political gains.
(read inclusion of Muslim asylum seek- Facing the heat of disapproval and Addressing a strong over 75000
ers) and they are determined that no rejections across the Brahmaputra val- saffron supporters, Nadda reassured
illegal migrant (irrespective of his/her ley, the saffron leaders swiftly came that the Centre is committed for safe-
religions) should be settled in Assam to action with an aim to mobilize the guarding the language & indigenous
after March 25, 1971 (mentioned in As- people in their favour. BJP’s State unit cultures of northeastern residents be-
sam Accord). in association with their political al- sides developing the region. Criticiz-
lies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and ing the Congress leaders for spreading
ontinuous protest-demonstra- Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) started misinformation about the CAA across
tions by All Assam Students’ Un- organizing spectacular peace rallies the country, Nadda appreciated Prime
C ion (AASU), Asom Jatiyatabadi Minister Narendra Modi and Union
Yuva Chatra Parisahd (AJYCP), a section home minister Shah for showing the
of Assamese performing artistes along political will to take initiative for the
with their associates had lately persecuted asylum seekers.
hinted to form a political party Students’ Union (AASU), “ Sonowal targeted both the
eying the forthcoming State Congress and Left parties for
Assembly elections in 2021. Continuous protests and spreading misinformation that
Even though the agitators were demonstrations by All Assam over one crore Bangladeshi
waiting for the Supreme Court’s Hindu nationals would be set-
directive as another hearing (on tled in Assam with the CAA ar-
CAA) was scheduled on Janu- Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra rangements. He was supported
ary 22, they have unofficially by Sarma asserted that the
declared that a new regional Parisahd (AJYCP), a section of number of CAA beneficiaries in
party was emerging to counter Assamese performing artistes along Assam would never cross five
the BJP in Assam. lakh. Lambasting the anti-na-
AASU leaders namely Sam- with their associates has hinted tional elements, the North-East
ujjal Bhattacharya, Dipanka Democratic Alliance convener
Nath and Lurinjyoti Gogoi along declared that he would leave
with popular Assamese singer forthcoming State Assembly the politics if the number (CAA
Zubeen Garg and his thou- beneficiaries) goes above five
sands of fans expressed confi- elections in 2021 lakh in the State.
dent that the electorate would Rejecting any possibility of
this time reject the saffron party. They success with a new political
were morally supported by many party in the State, Sarma claimed that
Assamese academicians, lawyers, writ- the saffron party would get not less
ers, media personalities etc in their than 100 seats in the 126-member State
mission. But various active anti-CAA Assembly polls scheduled for early
civil society groups including Krishak (read pro-CAA gathering) in different next year. Commenting on anti-CAA
Mukti Sangram Samity (whose top localities. Started at Nalbari in western protests, he stated that the government
to form a political party eying the “
leader Akhil Gogoi is behind the bars Assam, the ruling parties continue their has no problem with peaceful & demo-
for NIA charges) are yet to make up rallies at Sarbhog (Barpeta), Jagiroad, cratic movements, but the vandalism
their mind. Sualkuchi, Biswanath, etc with massive and violence would not be tolerated
However, the proposed regional supports from their well-wishers. under any circumstances. Sarma also
political party has drawn the atten- Recently, the BJP organized a booth- asked the agitators to challenge the
tion of the opposition Congress and All level conclave in Guwahati, where the government with electoral political
India United Democratic Front national working president JP Nadda, exercises.
(AIUDF). Veteran Congress leader general secretary Ram Madhav, State
and former State chief minister Tarun chief minister Sarbanand Sonowal, The author is a northeast India based
Gogoi welcomed the initiative and he State BJP president Ranjeet Kr Dass, political analyst. Views expressed
publicly announced that they would State minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, are his own
think of going for an alliance with etc were present to clarify that the CAA LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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