Taking part in the “total shutdown” of classes spearheaded by students fraternity of nine universities, colleges across Northeast protesting against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA), the Dibrugarh Hanumanbax Surajmall Kanoi(DHSK) College hoisted black flag and wore black badges to college.

The students of Dibrugarh University(DU) came out in large numbers to express their dissent against the law in the first hearing of Supreme Court against the petitions filed against CAA today.

The students union of DU shouted slogans against the legislation and burnt copies of CAA. ” We will not accept the legislation at any cost. The government has to take steps to withdraw the act and we will continue to raise our voices for the sanctity of our state” a protester said.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was an alumnus of Kanoi College. CM Sonowal had marked the Platinum Jubilee with the students last year.

On January 20th, 2020 the Supreme Court refused to grant an interim stay on CAA, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) and the government is free to implement those laws. The apex court directed the Centre to file replies against over 140 writ petitions (except those about Assam and Tripura) within four weeks.

Massive protests broke out in the country soon after the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in both the houses of the parliament. Those protesting against the law say that the Act is discriminatory and creates a divide on the basis of religion.

The CAA grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31st, 2014.

Photo: Abdul Rajjak