Protesting against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Assam Congress on Thursday launched the second phase ‘Janajagaran padayatra’ (mass awareness foot march) from Jonai in north Assam’s Dhemaji district.
Addressing a huge gathering, APCC president Ripun Bora said that his party will mount pressure on the Centre not to implement the CAA in the State if voted to power in the next election.
Sharply criticizing the ruling BJP, Bora said the saffron party is forcefully implementing CAA in Assam and the country as well thereby contemplating illegal Bangladeshis to settle in Assam.
“The people of Assam have understood the terrible affect of CAA and taking to streets to protest against it. The act is unconstitutional and sufficient to destroy existence of the indigenous Assamese people. So it must be scrapped,” Bora said.
He elucidated that Congress (I) party is standing with the people on this crucial time.
Taking a dig at chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Bora alleged that BJP is contemplating foreign nationals to enroll as Indian citizen through the CAA for its political gain.
“Sonowal, who earlier reported presence of about 50 lakh illegal immigrants in state, is not seeing any foreigners here after coming to power,” Bora said.
The Assam Congress chief it was high time for the people of the state to save their future generations from the grip of Bangladeshis.
He appealed the citizens to vote Congress party to form next Union Government and give the opportunity to repeal CAA in the parliament.
Bora also criticized Dhemaji MLA Ranoj Pegu and Jonai MLA legislator Bhuban Pegu, accusing both the leaders of misleading Mising youths in the name of sixth scheduled autonomy.
He said the sixth schedule provision is not applicable for Mising Autonomous Council because the community people are not residing within a conspicuous area.
APCC general secretary also Apuva Borgohain lashed out at chief minister Sonowal, minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other BJP bigwigs for their ‘anti-people policies’.
“Sarbananda Sonowal, who promised to save indigenous people on the land, has consigned Assam to the Bangladeshis thereby betrayed the indigenous people,” he said.