CAB Row: AGP Leader Atul Bora's Golaghat Residence Gheraoed by Protesters

Golaghat, December 8, 2019:

Assam Agriculture Minister and senior Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Atul Bora's house on Sunday was gheraoed by an angry mob of anti-CAB protesters, in Golaghat district of Assam.

The irate mob consisting of Chhatra Mukti Sangram Samiti, which is the student body of the KMSS, has surrounded Bora's house and raised various slogans, leading to an atmosphere of doom and gloom in Bengenakhowa, where Bora's house is located. Reportedly, the Minister was in his residence when the protesters surrounded his house.

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A protester said, "Atul Bora was once the leader of AASU...the same Atul Bora who was worshiped by the people of Assam...that same Atul Bora is supporting the CAB. He has now kowtowed in front of the Delhi. At a time when the entire state is protesting against the CAB, beloved student leader Atul Bora is supporting the Bill."

The protesters demanded answers from Bora as to why he is not opposing the CAB. "We want to know whether Bora will be with the Assamese people...or Delhi...or the BJP/RSS", stated the activist.

Ever since Bora, whose party is in an alliance with the BJP in the state, admitted his support for the Bill, he has been the target of wrathful protesters, who see the Bill as a grave danger to Assamese society. Irate activists have even staged a mock suicide of Bora, and an effigy of the AGP leader was recently hanged in Goreswor of Assam.

Bora's silence over the issue has been seen as a sign of "betrayal" by the people of Assam, as the AGP party was birthed from the ashes of the six years long Assam Agitation (1979-1985).

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Protests against the Citizenship Bill have intensified in the past few days, especially after the Union Cabinet cleared the Bill on Wednesday. The citizens of Assam and other northeastern states are opposed to the Bill that proposes a path to citizenship to undocumented non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Northeast Students’ Organisation (NESO) has called for a region-wide ‘bandh’ on Tuesday to mark the mass opposition to the CAB. On Tuesday, the Bill will be placed in the Rajya Sabha for its final review.

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