On Tuesday, March 12, the Guwahati Police issued a legal notice against the ‘Sarbatmak Hartal’, a planned strike protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), highlighting potential legal actions for any resultant public or private property damage.
Guwahati, Assam: On Tuesday (March 12), Guwahati’s police authorities issued a warning to political entities gearing up for a comprehensive strike, known as ‘Sarbatmak Hartal’, aimed at opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
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“The “Sarbatmak Hartal” is likely to lead to road blockade, forceful closure of shops and other business establishment, damage to public and private property including Railway/NHAI thereby disrupting the delivery of essential services,” the notice said.
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Moreover, the notice elaborated on the legal framework, stating that any harm to public or private properties during the protest would lead to financial liabilities for the organizing body under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
“Further, calling of such “Sarbatmak Hartal” will lead to Highway and Railway Track Blockade, which has been declared as illegal and unconstitutional by various judgements of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, Hon’ble Kerala High Court as well as Hon’ble Gauhati High Court. In this regard your attention is drawn to the specific order passed by the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court in Writ Petition(C) 7570/2013 dated 19/03/2019,” the notice added.
The All Assam Students’ Union has actively protested against the CAA, including the symbolic burning of the act’s rules. The Union’s Chief Advisor, Samujjal Bhattacharya, articulated that the CAA undermines the 1971 Assam Accord, posing threats to the cultural, economic, and political safeguarding of Assamese and Northeastern indigenous communities.
Bhattacharya expressed the region’s firm rejection of the CAA, criticizing it as communal, unconstitutional, and a violation of the Assam Accord. He emphasized Assam’s historical acceptance of immigrants until 1971, under the Accord, rejecting any further imposition of illegal migrants on the state.
“It is injustice to the people of Assam and northeastern region. Indigenous people of Assam and northeastern region are rejecting CAA because it is communal, unconstitutional, anti-indigenous, anti-north east and violation of the Assam accord,” said All Assam Students’ Union Chief Advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya.
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“After historic Assam accord was signed, for whole of the country, Assam has taken load of illegal foreigners whoever entered after 1971. Beyond 1971 we cannot take load of illegal foreigners in the state of Assam. This state is not a dumping ground for illegal Bangladeshis,” he said.
“Against this move of the Central government, there will be non-violent, peaceful, democratic movement and legal fight,” he added.
As the government proceeds with the CAA’s implementation, as announced by the Union Home Ministry, Home Minister Amit Shah assured that the CAA rules would be established before the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The CAA seeks to grant citizenship to persecuted non-Muslims from neighboring countries, reflecting the Narendra Modi administration’s legislative agenda since its passage in Parliament in 2019.
