Guwahati, Dec 12: The fifth anniversary of the passage of the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was marked by protests across Assam, with opposition parties and student organizations renewing their opposition to the law. The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) led separate demonstrations, condemning the law as “unconstitutional” and vowing to continue their fight for its repeal.

AJP organized a protest in Guwahati’s Chachal area, where they declared the CAA “illegal” following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the cut-off date for granting citizenship in Assam. AASU also held a rally in front of its headquarters in Uzanbazar, reaffirming its strong opposition to the law.

AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, reflecting on the anniversary, described December 11, 2019, as a “dark day” for Assam, recalling the massive protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which eventually became the CAA. He emphasized that the people of Assam would not accept the law and vowed to continue their struggle until it is repealed.

The CAA, passed by Parliament in December 2019, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014, and lived in the country for at least five years. The law was notified earlier this year, despite widespread protests and opposition across the state.

The passage of the CAA in 2019 led to violent protests across Assam, with clashes between demonstrators and security forces resulting in significant damage to public property. Despite the law’s implementation, both AJP and AASU remain firm in their stance, pledging to continue their protests until the CAA is repealed.