Facing flak, Sonowal embarks on outreach
GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal is busy trying to douse the fire of protests across most parts of the state against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Once hailed as ‘Jatiya Nayak’ (Hero of the Community) for his campaign against illegal immigrants, the former student leader is now the main target of protests and is accused by many as someone who has betrayed the Assamese people.
Many in Assam fear, CAA, which will fast-track citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a threat to the culture of Assamese people.
As former president of All Assam Students Union (AASU), which spearheaded the 1979-1985 agitation against illegal foreigners, Sonowal had challenged the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act in 2005 that was struck down by the Supreme Court. The student body is at the forefront of the anti-CAA protests in Assam and present office bearers feel Sonowal should have taken a stance against the law.
“Sonowal, who had fought to get rid of illegal immigrants from Assam, has now taken a U-turn ... While CMs of other northeast states voiced concerns and ensured their states are kept outside CAA’s purview, Sonowal chose to remain silent,” said
AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi.
Faced with criticism, Sonowal has announced a slew of measures to placate the protesters and is meeting representatives of various indigenous communities to convince them that the new law will not hurt Assam’s interests.
On December 21, Sonowal’s cabinet announced that it will ask Centre to amend Article 345 of Constitution to make Assamese the state language and enact a legislation to make teaching Assamese mandatory in schools.
A legislation to protect land rights of indigenous Assamese, a ~500-crore package for Moran, Motok, Ahom and Chutia communities and creation of three new autonomous councils were among the 18 decisions taken by the cabinet.
“The announcements by the government are welcome and people of Assam deserve these benefits. We will accept them, but it won’t affect the ongoing agitation against CAA,” said AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya.