GUWAHATI, Feb 4 - The Forum Against Citizenship Act Amendment Bill today said the dual nature of a section of anti-CAA forces have created confusion among the general public, which is affecting the pace of the movement, mainly in urban areas of the State.
The forum, with Dr Hiren Gohain as president and Manjit Mahanta as convener, also asserted that a concerted effort is required by all the CAA protesting organisations, so that the government cannot create a divide among them.
�The intense anti-CAA sentiments that united all sections of the people of Assam against this controversial Act is now somewhat missing in some parts of the State. In the absence of a clear roadmap ahead and also because of different stands taken by different anti-CAA forces, the government has got an opportunity to destabilise the people�s stir,� the forum added.
Also commenting on the speculations of a regional political party in Assam, it added that some leaders are keen on floating a regional political party over the issue and the people, in general, are rather confused about the entire situation, which has affected the movement negatively. The forum, however, stated that anti-CAA stir in rural Assam is still going on very strong, which is a positive sign.
It also slammed the Asam Sahitya Sabha for promoting Bollywood-culture during its most revered session.
�People are disheartened to observed that at one end, some organisations are vocal against the government and its decisions like CAA, but on the other hand, they lay red carpet for the leaders who have been adamant on bringing the amended Citizenship Act, completely disregarding the statewide discontentment over the issue,� added Manjit Mahanta.
The forum also strongly criticised the selective action against some of the CAA protestors by the state forces, police �atrocities� on a section of protestors, harassing people like Professor Arupjyoti Saikia in the name of interrogation by the NIA, and a selective approach in arresting some anti-CAA protestors.
