The artistes' fraternity under the banner of Silpi Samaj along with the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) staged an anti-CAA march from the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Samadhi Kshetra at Jalukbari to Dighalipukhuri on Sunday.
Thousands of people from all walks of life braved the cold and inclement weather and joined the march and raised slogans against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.
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Among those at the forefront of the rally were musicians Zubeen Garg and Manas Robin, AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi and chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya.
"People of Assam has made their opposition to CAA clear and the government should now understand the people's sentiments," Zubeen Garg said.
"The mass stir against CAA will continue till the contentious Act is repealed by the BJP-led Central government," Garg asserted.
"Delhi will have to hear our legitimate voice of protest. Let Prime Minister Modi come and see the mass protests. He needs to understand the wounded psyche of the Assamese masses,” Garg reiterated.
Adding further he said, "Anti-CAA protests will be peaceful and democratic. The normal life of the state will not be disturbed.
AASU GS Lurinjyoti Gogoi reiterated that the Centre must refrain from imposing its arbitrary and autocratic will on the agitating masses and see reason.
“Our protests are democratic and will continue till CAA is scrapped. The mandate of the Assam Accord must be honoured,” Gogoi said.
“All illegal Bangladeshi migrants irrespective of whether they are Hindus or Muslims should be detected on the basis of the cut-off date of March 25, 1971, and deported," he reiterated.
"How can the BJP Government even talk of accommodating more migrants when Assam is struggling with a huge load of illegal Bangladeshi migrants?” he asked
The rally culminated at the Dighalipukhuri point where the leaders addressed the public and pledged to carry forward the mass movement.
"CAA Go Back" slogans were also raised at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati during the washed-out T20 match between India and Sri Lanka.
Slogans were also raised against Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah who were present at the stadium to watch the match.
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