Thousands of people attempting to march towards the Assam Secretariat here on Friday against the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, were halted by the security forces.
People from 70 organisations were part of the march held as part of their ‘Janata Bhawan Gherao’ programme.
On being stopped by the security personnel, the protesters squatted on the Last Gate Road, behind the Secretariat, blocking traffic on the busy thoroughfare for several hours, the police said.
Members and supporters of the organisations, led by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad, had congregated here on Friday morning to gherao the Secretariat. Barricades had been placed around the building and Assam Police and the CRPF personnel were deployed to prevent the protesters from staging their ‘Sankalpa Shikha Jatra’.
The demonstrators held a dharna on the road with the leaders of the organisations speaking against the BJP-led governments in the State and the Centre.
They also criticised Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for “remaining silent on the issue despite repeated protests against the Bill”.
On Guwahati Police Commissioner Pradip Chandra Saloi’s request to withdraw the protest, the agitators demanded that he carry their message to the government for holding talks with them within seven days. The demonstrators cleared the road on Mr. Saloi’s assurance.
KMSS chief Akhil Gogoi, however, said, “Our agitation programmes will continue.”
All Minority Students Union president Ajijur Rahman said as per the Assam Accord of 1985, Hindus or Muslims from Bangladesh and Pakistan who came to the State after March 24, 1971, would have to leave.
AJYCP general secretary Palash Changmai accused the Chief Minister of functioning “under the orders of the RSS” and said Mr. Sonowal should “give up his Hitlerian rule as it is against the people of Assam”.
