Assam Youth rise in Revolt against ‘Jati’ destroying Bill

Guwahati, January 10, 2019:

The youths of Assam and student bodies have risen up in protest against the BJP’s allegedly “unconstitutional” Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. Students across Assam and Northeast have come forward in a strong display of support for the anti-Bill movement which has been gaining momentum ever since PM Narendra Modi’s announcement in Silchar of the party’s intention of implementing the Bill.

The BJP’s continued efforts to push the Bill through at the Rajya Sabha yesterday (it was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8) despite the continuing agitations and protests only seem to have strengthened the resolve of those opposing the Bill.

Initially, a ‘bandh’ was called by the North East Students Union (NESO) and All Assam Students Union (AASU) to condemn and protest the Bill, but the movement has seeped into the halls and passageways of schools and colleges.

By the time the Cotton University Students’ Union (CUSU) called for the boycott of classes from Dhubri to Sadia to protest the Bill, the smell of revolt was already in the air. A hunger strike has also been started by students of the University as a sign of protest. Next in line to protest the Bill were the students of Dibrugarh University, who have also announced an indefinite boycott of classes, citing the need to raise awareness about the threat faced from the Bill as reason for doing so. Dibrugarh University Post Graduate Students’ Union (DUPGSU) has also announced that no one from the ruling party, including ‘Jatiya Nayak’ CM Sarbananda Sonowal, will be allowed to enter the college.

[caption id="attachment_20983" align="alignnone" width="650"] Cotton University Students' Union class boycott call[/caption]

Activists from Students’ Federation of India (SFI) also staged a mock funeral of the ‘Jatiya Nayak’ Sarbananda Sonowal as well as seven BJP members of Parliament in condemnation of the Chief’s Ministers complicity in implementation of the Bill.

These flames of dissent which have erupted across the colleges and universities of Assam can be seen as a throwback to the Assam agitation (1979-1985) which led to the formation of the ‘Assam Accord’, which is seen to be in jeopardy in view of the BJP’s stubbornness to get the Bill passed. The flame has also reached national capital New Delhi where North Eastern students from various universities staged a demonstration in front of the iconic landmark ‘Jantar Mantar’. “We are here to raise our voices”, announced Arpita Dutta, one of the student protesters.

Protest at 'Jantar Mantar':

https://www.facebook.com/ne.inside/videos/315324449085923/?__tn__=%2CdkC-R&eid=ARBC3K9hdxBwBXl67TD3IH55yukL9mfUS-PNmJ06zNf88n_nw1JOxPrLkgUfSQtMPH5Ma_R16PdSOjcD&hc_ref=ARQVyEMYN20W3lTL9zJc4WdxtZHJ76QT6lKYiySKWJU9EPt8Fv_JxdbQ9IFs42xwFj0

Students of the prestigious B.Barooah College in Guwahati have also joined the protest today. Speaking to InsideNe, a student body President from the college said that they will not let the sacrifices of the myrtyrs who died during the Assam Agitation go in vain. Students carried black flags and shouted slogans condemning ‘Jatiya Nayak’ CM Sarbandanda Sonowal and the BJP government. Shouts of “Joi aai Axom” echoed throughout the college campus.

Scenes from B.Barooah College:

https://www.facebook.com/ne.inside/videos/768994503475435/?__tn__=%2CdkC-R&eid=ARAFN8of-oQv1FkJHvKXnWUv62yErnPDLc-A2OM8jHAdLsyE1-z_RNKkGu4v5A5LGcM7gMeb8XzS5TVB&hc_ref=ARSlhgPgtNyF8Lq2e_-a_Wwe2zhzSumSs3AFfdw3HK7kD_o_mwB_nkHIKHq5lzBfQJo

In Dibrugarh’s Kanoi, Kanoi Commerce as well as Manohari Devi College students protested against the against the Bill at Thana-Chariali and created a human ring to prevent traffic from flowing freely.

[caption id="attachment_20979" align="alignnone" width="650"] Kanoi protest[/caption]

Although the mass protests have stalled the Bill from being passed, it is speculated that the BJP will attempt to get it passed in the interim Budget on February 1. Thus, the youth have a pivotal role to play in the struggles to come if they are to retain the sovereignty of Assam against the fascistic Bill.