Guwahati: United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) has threatened to stage a sit-in demonstration against the implementation of the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) 2019 in the state if Prime Minister Narendra Modi refuses to meet the representatives of the forum during his two-day visit to Assam scheduled from the evening of March 8.
Earlier, the forum, comprising 16 national, regional and local Opposition political parties, had written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking a meeting regarding CAA either in New Delhi or during his visit to Kaziranga.
Speaking to media persons during a visit to the site of the proposed sit-in demonstration in central Assam’s Kaliabor on Wednesday, UOFA president and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bhupen Kumar Borah said that the Prime Minister’s Office was yet to give the Opposition Forum permission to meet the Prime Minister.
“So, we will wait till March 8 in anticipation of a last-minute call from the Prime Minister. However, if we are not given permission, we will stage a sit-in protest against CAA from 10 am on March 9 at Kaliabor,” Borah said.
In the letter which was addressed to the Prime Minister, the Opposition forum, while referring to the Union home minister’s recent announcement that CAA would be implemented in Assam before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, had sought a meeting with the Prime Minister to apprise him of the “volatile situation likely to arise” if the CAA is implemented in the state.
The forum had sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to address what it termed as the “most sensitive issue” while stating that the said Act would nullify the historic Assam Accord of 1985, which is regarded as the lifeline of the Assamese people.
“As you know the people of Assam, different political parties and various stakeholders have opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 from the date of its introduction in Parliament. During December 2019 and early parts of 2020. Before the outbreak of COVID, the people of Assam, from all walks of life, were in agitation for months together demanding repeal of the Act,” the forum had stated in the letter to the Prime Minister.
The forum further stated that during the agitation, five youths of Assam were killed in police firing and several hundreds were injured.
“Moreover, the said Act will nullify the historic Assam Accord of 1985, which is regarded as the lifeline of the Assamese people. Given the facts and circumstances, we a delegation from the United Opposition Forum of Assam, deem it very urgent to apprise you of the volatile situation likely to arise in Assam in the coming days regarding the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and seek your intervention to address this most sensitive issue for which we want an appointment with you at the earliest according to your convenience,” the forum stated.
“If you desire, we can meet you during your proposed Assam visit on March 8 and 9, 2024,” the Opposition forum had stated in the letter.
“As responsible Opposition political parties, we are duty-bound to raise the voices of the people. There is a strong perception among the people of Assam, irrespective of caste, creed and political affiliation that the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 will put in danger the culture, history, socio-economic condition, social fabric and identity of Assamese people,” the forum stated in the letter.
Earlier, had through a memorandum submitted to the Assam Governor at Raj Bhavan here, sought the intervention of President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to direct the central government to desist from its decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA in Assam and to repeal what it termed as “unconstitutional” legislation.
Last month, the forum had also threatened a state-wide bandh the very next day of the CAA coming into force.
Also Read: SoO abrogation may not be enough to douse Manipur fire: Here’s why