Assam: AASU's Sivasagar unit protests against CAA implementation decision

The Sivasagar unit of All Assam Students' Union (AASU) staged a protest today on July 16, condemning government's decision to prevent referring cases of foreigners who came to Assam before December 31 in 2014, to the Foreigners Tribunal under the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

 

The protestors took to the streets expressing their strong opposition to the government's decision. The students' body demanded that the government reconsider its notification and halt the current process concerning foreigners in the state.

 

Over a hundred activists and members of AASU gathered, chanting slogans such as "We do not accept CAA" and "Stop the process of deporting foreigners."

 

The protest highlighted the discontent among the local population regarding the implementation of the CAA and the handling of foreigners' cases.

 

Citizenship is a sensitive issue in Assam that has for decades singed in the fire of anti-outsider movement. Five people were killed in 2019 when Assam saw a massive anti-CAA agitation.

 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday (July 15) that only eight people had applied for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state after four months of the rules being notified. He pointed out how the anti-CAA protest leaders had tried to scare people, saying that up to 50 lakh illegal immigrants could get citizenship under the amended law.