The people of Mangaldai, the place where the historic Assam Movement against foreign infiltrators was started in 1979, were once again reminded of those passing days when a mass public rally was taken out on Thursday in protest against the Citizenship Bill (Amendment), 2016.
The protest rally was organized by the Inter-Mangaldai unit of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) in coordination with several local non-political like-minded organizations including the forum of former Assam Movement activists, families of the Assam Movement martyrs, Mangaldai Bar Association, Brihattar Asomiya Yuva Mancha, North Mangaldai Club among others.
The protest rally was joined by several thousands of people from different walks of life including senior citizens, prominent and veteran playwrights, sports organizers, students, women, etc.
The protestors gheraoed the Deputy Commissioner’s office and shouted slogans against the Bill and the BJP-led Governments both at the Centre and the State.
The protestors demanded that the Deputy Commissioner should meet them physically and receive the copy of the memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister.
However, as the Deputy Commissioner refused to come down and sent two ADCs to receive the memorandum, the protesters decided not to submit the memorandum through the Deputy Commissioner and send it directly to the PM.
In the memorandum signed by Gautam Kalita, president (in-charge) and Satyaranjan Deka, general secretary, AASU, Inter-Mangaldai unit respectively, the charter of demands included scrapping of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, implementation of Assam Accord within a stipulated time, sealing of the entire Indo-Bangla border with immediate effect and constitutional safeguards for the indigenous people of the State.
A protest meeting was also held in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office where several present and former AASU leaders of Darrang, Sonitpur and Udalguri districts including Santanu Mahanta, Bhargab Kr Das, Anjan Goswami, Jadav Sarma, Diganta Mani Bora, Kabul Sarma, Arupjyoti Kalita and Khanindra Rajbongshi were present.
Earlier, the people assembled at the Bhebarghar public field and marched towards the DC office moving across Mangaldai town streets.