December 11 saw widespread protests across the Northeast as the North East Students’ Organization (NESO) observed the day as a “Black Day” in opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019.
NESO, which represents eight major student groups in the region, has long condemned the Act, arguing that it threatens the cultural identity, traditions, and demographic balance of the indigenous people in the Northeast.
In Meghalaya, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) led a protest in Shillong, where they displayed black flags and banners in strong opposition to the CAA.
The KSU has been one of the most vocal critics of the Act, asserting that it undermines the rights of indigenous communities.
Their participation in the NESO-led protest emphasized their continued stand against the controversial law.
In Agartala, Tripura, the Tipra Students Federation (TSF), also a member of NESO, organized a protest at the Circuit House area.
Protesters there, too, raised black flags and banners, signalling their firm resistance to the CAA.
“This Act will harm our demography and cultural fabric in Tripura and the Northeast,” a protester said, highlighting their concerns about the law’s potential consequences.
Meanwhile, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) observed the day with a symbolic program, hoisting black flags and banners at their office and at Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima.
The NSF issued a statement via social media, reaffirming their opposition to the CAA and calling it a “political injustice” against the indigenous people of the region.
In Guwahati, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) raised black flags at Swahid Nyas in Uzan Bazar, further adding to the growing wave of protests in the state.
The CAA, which expedites the process for granting citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, has sparked intense controversy in the Northeast.
Critics argue that it threatens the region’s demographic composition and undermines the rights of indigenous communities.
As protests continue across the region, NESO and other student organizations remain determined to pressure the Government of India to repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, with the future of the law in the region still hanging in the balance.
