Assam erupted in protests on Wednesday with various organisations demanding an unconditional apology from the Bharatiya Janata Party for having > referred to the people of Northeast as “immigrants” and “migrants” in its Vision Document ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
Asom Gana Parishad workers and supporters took out protest rallies across the State and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, flaying the BJP for referring to the people of Northeast as “immigrants.” The regional party also objected to use of the word “migrants” and demanded an unconditional apology by the BJP for hurting the people of the region.
Activists of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) took out protest march in the city and staged a demonstration, blocking busy Maniram Dewan Road for more than two hours. KMSS activists, led by its leader Akhil Gogoi, lay down on the road and kept shouting slogans demanding an apology by the BJP’s central leadership. Leading the protest, Mr. Gogoi said the use of the word “migrant” was equally objectionable to the people of the entire region.
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Tension gripped the State BJP headquarters for over an hour as hundreds of activist of the National Students Union of India staged a dharna, blocking entry to the BJP office. The NSUI activists shouted slogans and burnt BJP party flags. NSUI workers tried to break police barricade and kept shouting slogans, demanding unconditional apology by the BJP. Later, police reinforcements arrived at the scene and pushed the NSUI activists away from the entrance to the BJP office but the demonstrations continued.
All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) Adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjya announced that the student body would take out a torchlight procession in the evening across the State to press for unconditional apology by the BJP. “We cannot accept the explanation by BJP that use of the term immigrants was a printing mistake. The BJP must tender unconditional apology to the entire people of the northeast,” he added.