On the fifth anniversary of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Assam saw significant protests led by the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). Both groups strongly opposed the legislation, labeling it a “black law” and calling for its repeal.

The AJP organized a protest in Guwahati, condemning the law as “illegal” after the Supreme Court ruling on the cut-off date for granting citizenship in Assam. Meanwhile, AASU held an agitation at its headquarters in Uzanbazar. AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi marked the day with a black flag and recalled the 2019 protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which later became the CAA. He emphasized that the Assamese community continues to reject the law and will persist in their fight for its repeal.

The Supreme Court’s ruling on October 17, upholding the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, allowed citizenship for immigrants who arrived in Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971. Meanwhile, the CAA aims to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.

Despite the Central Government notifying the CAA’s implementation in March 2024, the AASU has vowed to continue its protests, criticizing the BJP government for pushing the controversial law. The announcement of the law in 2019 sparked violent protests throughout Assam, causing extensive damage to public property and forcing the government to impose curfews in several regions.

The CAA controversy remains a deeply divisive issue in Assam, with ongoing resistance from several organizations and communities. The protests highlight the continuing opposition to the law, with many in Assam vowing to keep up the fight until it is overturned.

Key Highlights:

• Assam marks 5th anniversary of CAA with protests by AJP and AASU.
• AJP protests in Guwahati, calls CAA “illegal.”
• AASU vows to continue agitations against the CAA until its repeal.
• Supreme Court ruling on citizenship cutoff date adds fuel to protests.
• 2019 protests led to violent clashes, significant damage to public properties.