Assam: Akhil Gogoi opposes move to implement CAA, calls for statewide protests

Sivasgar MLA and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi has expressed his strong opposition to the Union Home Minsiter Amit Shah's statement that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be implemented ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. 

Gogoi also stated that there would vehement protests and demonstrations throughout the state if the law is implemented. 

The Raijor Dal leader also said that CAA is a communal law and its implementation will give citizenship to lakhs of illegal Bangladeshi Hindus who are living in Assam. 

"We strongly oppose the statement by Home Minister Amit Shah that the CAA would be implemented ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. CAA is against the constitution, against the democracy. The CAA is a communal and religiously motivated law. We can never accept this law. If CAA gets implemented, then 15-20 lakh Hindu Bangladeshis, who are illegally staying in Assam, will get Indian citizenship in Assam. While on one hand, 15-20 lakh Bangladeshi Hindus will get immediate citizenship, and on the other hand, 1 crore 70 lakh Hindu Bangladeshis living in Bangladesh, who are foreigners, will have  clear road to enter India, especially Assam and the Northeast. Hence we cannot accept the CAA which will put such a huge burden on us," said Gogoi.

The Sivasagar MLA's comments come in after Amit Shah earlier today stated that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which was enacted in 2019, will be implemented before the Lok Sabha elections this year after issuing the rules in this regard.

Also Read: Citizenship Amendment Act to be implemented before Lok Sabha polls: Amit Shah 

Gogoi further said that the CAA is an attempt to change Assam's demography and there will be strong protests against it. Here, he called upon his party workers and the people of the state to get ready to protest against CAA implementation. 

"People of Assam have been protesting against demographic change since 1910. The struggle against demographic change has been a major feature of Assam's regional movements. Hence no Assamese will accept that through the CAA lakhs of people be allowed to enter Assam. We strongly protest this. We from the Rajor Dal are demanding that it should not be implemented. If they try to forcefully implement it, then there will intense demonstrations against it. We call upon all Raijor Dal party workers to get ready to protest against this illegal law by the communal BJP. We also call upon all the people of Assam to come together and oppose this law which can damage the culture and language of Assam," he said. 

The CAA, introduced by the Narendra Modi government, is designed to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. This includes Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians.

The act was passed by Parliament in December 2019 and received presidential assent shortly thereafter. 

Despite this, its implementation has been delayed, leading to significant protests in various parts of India. However, on February 10, Amit Shah reiterated the government's commitment to enforcing the act, emphasizing that it is intended to provide citizenship rather than take it away.