The family of the first martyr of the Assam Movement has vehemently opposed the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).
Every year, December 10 is observed as the Swahid Diwas (Martyrs’ Day) in Assam to commemorate the death anniversary of Khargeswar Talukdar, the first martyr of the Assam Movement.
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Talukdar was killed in police firing on December 10, 1979.
The family members of the martyr have strongly opposed the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
The brother of the martyr, Kameshwar Talukdar told Northeast Now, “We can never accept the bill. The Assam government in solidarity with the people must take steps to thwart the implementation of the bill.”
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He further said, “In greater interest of the people of Assam and showing respect towards the martyrs of the Assam Movement, the bill should not be implemented in Assam. It must be scrapped at any cost.”
It may be mentioned that the Assam Movement or the Assam Agitation was launched in 1979 against illegal immigrants in Assam.
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The movement, led by All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the ‘All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad’ (AAGSP), continued for six years till 1985.
A total of 855 people sacrificed their lives during the Assam Movement.
It may be mentioned that Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal also led the AASU during the Assam Movement.
The movement ended with the signing of the Assam Accord between the leaders of AASU-AAGSP and the government of India.
According to the Assam Accord, March 24, 1971, was fixed as the cut-off date for identifying and deporting illegal immigrants from Assam.
But if the CAB, 2019 is passed illegal non-Muslim migrants (Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, Christian, and Sikhs) who came from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, will be granted Indian citizenship.