In a staunch rebuttal to the ongoing political discourse surrounding Assam's development and the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Assam Congress President Bhupen Borah asserted today that the people of Assam would not yield to the CAA, irrespective of any attempts to sway public sentiment with gestures like the unveiling of statues of historical figure Bir Lachit Borphukan.
Bhupen Borah stated that the installation of statues commemorating the heroic figure of Lachit Borphukan would not deter the opposition's stance against the CAA. He stated his point by referencing his own contribution to this commemoration, having erected a statue in Upper Assam, in Lakhimpur.
"The Assamese people have erected numerous statues of Bir Lachit Borphukan," stated Borah. "But let me make it clear: even if they give us thousands of statues, it will not sway our resolve against the CAA."
Borah also addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statements during his visit to Assam, questioning the veracity of claims regarding improvements in the conditions of tea gardens and communities. He highlighted the contradiction of purported development amidst the recent sale of 16 tea gardens by the Williamson Magor Group raising concerns over the non-fulfillment of promised minimum wages for tea garden workers.
Further challenging the Prime Minister's remarks about the Northeast being akin to family, Bhupen Borah interrogated Modi's response to the crisis in Manipur and its implications for the region's familial ties. He criticized the political posturing surrounding announcements of packages for Manipur deeming them fraudulent and opportunistic, especially in the run-up to the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Bhupen Borah admonished the assurances made by Prime Minister Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding immigration issues, citing their unfulfilled promises and the continued presence of foreigners in Assam despite their declarations.