GUWAHATI: In the face of mounting threats of mass protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rules, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued a bold statement on Tuesday.
Asserting that he would be the first to resign if even one individual who hasn’t applied for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is granted citizenship, Chief Minister Sarma urged the people to maintain calm and order amidst the ongoing debates and concerns surrounding citizenship issues.
“In this debate, there are individuals on both sides of the spectrum. With two and a half years having passed since the CAA’s enactment in Parliament, those contesting its legitimacy have recourse to the courts. As a son of Assam, if even one individual who hasn’t undergone the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process is granted citizenship, I will be the first to tender my resignation,” he said, speaking to the press in Sivsagar on Tuesday.
ALSO READ Assam Police Issues legal notice ahead of Opposition’s hartal amidst CAA protests
His remarks come amidst a backdrop of simmering dissent across Assam, with opposition parties vehemently criticising the BJP government at the Centre for pushing forward with the implementation of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA).
Meanwhile, as tensions escalate, the Office of the Commissioner of Police issued a stern legal notice on Tuesday, underscoring the repercussions of any potential unrest.
The notice warns that legal action will be taken under the appropriate provisions of law if any damage occurs to public or private property, including railway and national highway assets, or if any citizen is injured during the hartal (strike).
The legal notice specifies that such actions may involve invoking the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
Furthermore, it emphasizes that the total cost of damages will be recovered from the responsible organization, placing accountability at the forefront of the cautionary measure.
Amidst this backdrop, reports indicate that the United Opposition Forum has called for a “Sarbatmak Hartal” on March 12, scheduled to begin from 6 am and continue until 6 pm.
