Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued a stern warning on March 10, stating that political parties calling for a bandh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) of 2019 might face de-registration.
The CAA facilitates expedited citizenship for non-Muslims who allegedly faced religious persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan and sought refuge in India by December 31, 2014.
Amid growing anti-CAA sentiments in Assam, Chief Minister Sarma emphasised the right to protest but urged political parties to adhere to a Gauhati High Court order before announcing bandhs against the CAA. The warning specifically targeted the Congress-led Opposition alliance of 16 parties.
Referring to a March 2019 high court order, which deemed all types of bandhs, including road and rail blockades, as illegal and unconstitutional, Sarma reminded political parties of the consequences. The court also directed the Assam government to establish a Bandh Loss Compensation Fund to recover losses incurred during shutdowns.
While acknowledging the right of student bodies to declare a bandh, the Chief Minister asserted that political parties violating the high court order would be reported to the Election Commission of India, citing the court’s directive.
Sarma highlighted Assam’s history of approaching the Supreme Court to challenge contentious legislation, citing the example of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act. He suggested that legal recourse is more effective than disruptive protests, emphasising the need to justify any perceived errors in the formulation of the CAA to the apex court.
The Chief Minister drew parallels with the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision to strike down the IM(DT) Act, enacted by the Indira Gandhi government in 1983. The IM(DT) Act, specific to Assam, provided special protections for “illegal immigrants” affected by the anti-foreigners Assam Agitation of 1979-85. Sarma encouraged parties to appeal to the judiciary if they believed the CAA was flawed, expressing confidence in the court’s intervention and commitment to accepting its verdict.
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