Veteran Congress leader and former Assam Chief Minister heavily came down on Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowala and Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in the Centre.
Addressing a press meet in Guwahati on December 31st, 2019, Gogoi said, “I thought Sonowal will do something better for the state but he didn’t do so. The Assamese people will not bow their heads. The people of the state have shown their immense strength during anti-CAA protests. December 11th, 2019 will always be remembered as a ‘black day’ for the state.”
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which grants Indian citizenship to the non-Muslims of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 11th, 2019. As many as 125 lawmakers voted in the favour of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and 99 against it.
While the Bill was being discussed in the Rajya Sabha, the state erupted in violent protests. The agitators fought pitched battles with the security personnel in almost every district of the state, forcing the administration to impose curfew and suspend internet services.
Thousands of seething protesters defied the curfew in Guwahati and took to the streets against the CAA, prompting police to open fire. The Guwahati-Shillong (GS) Road had turned into a veritable war zone as protesters vandalised shops and buildings, damaged road divider railings, defaced newly-painted walls, burnt tyres and clashed with security forces.
“The Centre has no time to listen to the concerns of the people who are protesting against the act across the country. The year 2019 has exposed the real face of Sonowal. If voted to power, we will not implement CAA in Assam,” he added.
The state is witnessing one of the worst violent protests in its history. Four people have been killed in police firing so far, while an oil tanker driver was charred to death when his vehicle was set on fire in Orang.
It may be mentioned, Sonowal has accused the Congress of spreading rumours against the CAA among the people. Sonowal said the Assam government never took any step which was detrimental to the interest of the people of the state.
Photo: Time8
