GUWAHATI, Jan 24 - The Coordination Committee Against Citizenship Amendment Act will observe the country�s Republic Day on January 26 as �Constitution protection day� to highlight numerous attempts by the ruling dispensation to attack the Indian Constitution and core values of Indian democracy.
Legal experts, artistes, cultural activists and others will gather at the Lakhidhar Bora Kshetra near District Library here at 11 am to deliberate on the �unconstitutional� moves of the government that have also posed a threat to the identity and existence of the indigenous Assamese.
Coordination committee president Dr Hiren Gohain told the media here that the BJP-led Union and State governments are rapidly heading towards total tyrannical rule in the country and in Assam, at the cost of the basic structure of Indian democracy and identity of indigenous population, respectively.
The committee alleged that the CAA in itself is a glaring example of the biggest blow on the secular outlook of Indian democracy that seeks to grant large-scale citizenship on the basis of religion, sidelining the existing mechanism to grant citizenship to foreign nationals.
The committee also voiced its concern at the arrest of KMSS student leader Manas Konwar on Thursday by the NIA and misuse of the law and order machinery to reopen old cases against Akhil Gogoi and other KMSS leaders to weaken the anti-CAA stir.
�Akhil Gogoi and KMSS are being specifically targeted by the BJP government because of their presence among the grassroots population in all corners of Assam. The anti-CAA stir in rural Assam has got an impetus because of KMSS. Strategically, the NIA and other legal machineries are being misused to arm-twist the activists opposing the government,� he added.
�The government leaders are quick to point fingers at Congress and the Leftist organisations for stirring the anti-CAA agitation. They need to read the pulse of the common people of Assam who are spontaneously opposing the Act. The AASU, the AJYCP and thousands of commoners take to streets every day in different parts of the State. Are they all from Congress or Left parties?� he questioned.
Coordinator of the committee Deben Tamuly added that organising �Constitution protection day� is the need of the hour both to raise voice against violation of the Constitution and to protect the language, culture and identities of the indigenous ethnic groups of Assam.
�The people gathered on the occasion would also take a pledge to contribute their bit to protect the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution,� he added.
