GUWAHATI:
Assam cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) no longer holds any relevance in the state’s political landscape now.
“Whatever the Congress is trying to do, they won’t succeed. It will be a complete failure. People of Assam have a completely different agenda now. In the post-Covid world, there is no place for any protest or reactions on the CAA . They have misjudged the political landscape,” Himanta told reporters on the sidelines of a government event.
Himanta’s comments come a day after the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee said it will build a memorial to commemorate the martyrs of anti-CAA protests. Earlier this week, Rahul Gandhi, while launching the Grand Old Party’s campaign in Assam, had announced that it will never allow CAA to be implemented if it comes to power.
Reacting to the minister’s statement, the Congress said the party will collect 50 lakh “gamosas” from around the state for the martyrs’ memorial. “The Congress is building an anti-CAA memorial in Guwahati and I would request every Assamese to share gamosas with your message with us. You may sign the Gamosa and send it to us through courier or hand it over to any party worker when he/she visits you,” said Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi.
“Your chance to be a part of history! Humbly request you to write-why you don't want CAA in Assam with your name on a Gamosa & send it to INC Assam office. It will find a place at the grand memorial to be built in Guwahati in memory of the anti-CAA movement,” Gogoi tweeted.
Assam Congress president Ripun Bora said in a tweet, “CAA shall be rooted out & we shall make history! As per Assam Congress's request, please write your name & anti-CAA message on a Gamosa. Your Gamosa shall be memorialised at the grand memorial to be built commemorating anti-CAA movement.”