The opposition parties in Assam, represented by the 16-party United Opposition Forum Assam (UOFA), have requested President Droupadi Murmu to intervene and repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). They argue that the CAA is unconstitutional and poses a threat to the historic Assam Accord of 1985, putting at risk the identity, history, culture, social fabric, and economy of the Assamese people. The UOFA submitted a memorandum to President Murmu through Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, stating that if the demand is not met, they will initiate a “democratic mass movement” across the state.
The opposition asserts that the CAA, passed by the BJP-led government in 2019, ignores the sentiments of the people of Assam. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent announcement that the CAA will be implemented in Assam before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections has further fueled their concerns. The memorandum emphasizes that there have been protests against the law since its introduction and calls the CAA “unconstitutional and anti-national.”
Assam Congress president Bhupem Kumar Borah expressed the opposition’s firm stance against the CAA and mentioned their plan to seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey their opposition. The UOFA also announced a state-wide bandh and ‘gherao’ of the Janata Bhawan (the secretariat) as part of their protest if the CAA is implemented.
The CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan after residing in the country for five years. The UOFA, comprising parties such as Congress, TMC, AAP, Raijor Dal, AJP, CPI(M), CPI, AIFB, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar), Samajwadi Party, and RJD, is united in its opposition to the implementation of the CAA.