Assam: Singer Zubeen Garg vows to lead protest against CAA

At a cultural event for Manasa Puja in Mushalpur, Baksa on March 6, popular singer Zubeen Garg spoke out against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

He asserted that the act is unnecessary and urged attendees to protest against it. Garg also made a firm declaration that as long as he is active, the CAA will not be implemented.

In his speech, he mentioned figures like G.P. Singh and Himanta Biswa Sarma, implying their involvement would not aid in the enactment of the CAA. Expressing his sadness over the casualties related to the issue, Garg promised to work towards preventing further tragedies.

The United Opposition Forum of Assam has submitted a memorandum to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, via Assam's Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, on 29 February. The memorandum demands the repeal of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, and requests that it not be implemented in Assam.

The memorandum alleges that the CAA 2019 has been strongly opposed by political parties and the people of Assam since its introduction in Parliament. However, the ruling BJP government approved the Bill, leveraging its majority in both Houses of Parliament and disregarding the sentiments of the Assamese people.

The memorandum, listing 16 Assam opposition political groups, states that the Union Home Minister recently announced that the CAA would be implemented in Assam prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

The Opposition Political Parties have declared the Act to be unconstitutional and a threat to the Assam Accord of 1985. They argue that the Act jeopardises the history, culture, social fabric, economy, and identity of the Assamese people. The parties have appealed for intervention and have requested the Government of India to refrain from implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Assam. They have also asked for the Act to be repealed, labelling it as unconstitutional and anti-national. If their appeal is ignored, the parties, along with the people of Assam, have threatened to initiate a Democratic Mass Movement to force the government to repeal the Act. They hope that the constitutional Head of India will take necessary action, as stated in the memorandum.

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