Indigenous people of Tripura hit streets in protest against CAA
AGARTALA | Jan 07:
Hundreds of indigenous people of Tripura under the banner of Joint Movement Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (JMACAB) hit the streets of Agartala today in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The anti-CAA supporters also threatened massive agitation if the state is not exempted from the purview of the act.
Around 9.30 am, hundreds of tribal people and members of regional parties gathered "peacefully" and raised slogans against CAA. No untoward incident was reported during the brief agitation programme but there was tight security arrangement. After a while, all the agitators were picked by police in front of Rabindra Bhavan.
JMACAB advisor Chitya Debbarma, INPT leader Rabindra Debbarma and NCT leader Animesh Debbarma addressed the anti-CAA gathering.
The agitation today has raised the alarm of the ruling BJP in view of the fact that in Tripura, except BJP, all the parties- Congress, CPI (M) and IPFT, a partner of BJP led coalition government have strongly opposed the CAA.
In his address, Chitya Debbarma threatened of spearheading a massive agitation to compel the Centre to keep Tripura out of CAA.
"We had observed indefinite strike opposing the CAB prompting Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hold meeting with our organization. Amitji had assured us to convene a meeting within a week to address JMACAB's concerns over the act. Unfortunately, a month has gone by but no meeting is called yet", he said in strong voice.
Earlier today, Tripura police had denied permission to JMACAA to stage a peace rally at Agartala against Citizenship Amendment Act. "Democracy is at stake", said Joint Movement against Citizenship Amendment Act (JMACAA) convener Anthony Debbarma following permission denial by police.
In the wake of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) stir that spread like a bush fire across the country, hundreds of protestors are raising their voice against the amended citizenship law that aims to grant non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who entered India on or before 31 December 2014.
