Khilonjia Mancha finds no space for demonstration in Cachar; District administration directed them back to Guwahati

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An independent organisation titled Khilonjia Mancha (Khilonjia – Indigenous; Mancha – Forum) tried its best to hold a gathering in Cachar district. Their agenda was to demonstrate against the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 and they wanted to send across a message that even in Bengali populated Barak Valley, there is a huge chunk of people who oppose the amendment. The Khilonjia Mancha leadership was represented by Mrinal Kanti Hazarika, (Former United Liberation Front of Assam Militant), Rubul Das, (forum’s member) and Ranjan Narayan Koch (Chilarai Sena).

The leadership along with other local members gathered in a marriage hall in Sonabarighat area, which is under Sonai constituency. But before the meeting could start, a team of security personals lead by Additional Superintendent of Police Rakesh Reddy reached the venue and escorted the gathering out of the hall. Reddy and his team allowed the three leaders to be in the room and address the press. Moments after the press conference, the leaders too were asked to leave the hall and the district. They sat on a vehicle and immediately left for Guwahati.

Before leaving, the three-member-leadership of the Khilonjia Mancha expressed their angst through the media. “After visiting Cachar we realised that the Sarbananda Sonowal government is murdering democracy.” After the jibe at the Chief Minister, the spokespersons went on to say that this gathering was requested by the local members of the forum, “It’s sad that we could not complete prosperous dialogue due to the intervention of Police personals and district administration. We were pressurised mentally and was kept away from the food that we arranged for the gathering,” said the spokespersons.

The members of the forum believe that there is a section of people, in Barak Valley, who oppose the amendment of the bill, but due to “lack of leadership” their voice is not surfacing, “It is our responsibility to safeguard the integrity and tradition of the indigenous people of Assam,” they added. The members of the forum spoke about the Joint Parliamentary Committee visit in Assam, “We were asked if we are okay with the amendment if the refugees are transported to other region of the country, we refused, and said that we still do not support it. If they are allowed in India and given citizenship then they have free access to all the states of India and no one can stop them. We fear that they would return to Assam to their relatives,” the members added.

The leadership of the Khilonjia Mancha did not spare the deputy commissioner and superintendent of Police either. Attacking them verbally they said, “Both DC and SP are working for the BJP and RSS and murdering the democracy. If we are returning from here peacefully that is only to respect the decision of the government and maintain peace,” they added.

Barakbulletin.com reached out to deputy commissioner S Lakshmanan, who termed his move to disrupt the meeting, as a “necessary step” to maintain peace and harmony in the district. “We did not harm anybody physically nor did we force ourselves. The circumstances are such that a small spark can turn into a wild fire in no time in such a scenario what we did was our job. Yes, few people can get offended with this but that was the best way to maintain peace in the district,” Lakshmanan explained.

Meanwhile in Cachar district itself moments after district administration vacated the meeting hall,few people gathered elsewhere and formed a committee. Titled “Nagorikotto Sangsadhani Bill 2016 Birodhi Oikkomoncho” (The united Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 opposition forum). In a press conference earlier today, the forum announced Manmohan Burman as the president, Ashique Uddin Barlaskar as the executive president, Feroz Ahmed Choudhury as vice-president among others. The members informed the press that an executive committee has been formed which includes a total of 25 members. “We will soon organise mass demonstration to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016,” said the spokesperson of this newly formed forum.

The JPC Visit earlier this year, has already created quite a stir in Assam. People of Barak Valley had come out in large numbers to show their support towards the Citizenship Amendment Bill but Brahmaputra valley on the other hand opposed the bill. Since then in media as well as in common discussions the two valleys of Assam has always been in loggerheads.