Namaskar,
I convey my heartfelt regards to the people of Assam. You have witnessed the violent protests in the name of CAB in the state for last few days. However, the anti-CAB protests have taken ugly turn, which the people of Assam have already seen. The peace loving people of Assam unequivocally condemned the violence. They want peace, not violence. People in the state have been living peacefully with unity, harmony, friendship and camaraderie. Therefore, my sincere appeal to the people of Assam is to abstain from violent protests and sustain the social, cultural and spiritual bond propagated by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva.
Of late, I have noticed that in the name of CAB, a misinformation campaign is going on which has created doubts in the minds of the people. The misinformation campaign also went to the extent of giving fictitious figures of granting citizenship to the tune of more than one crore under this act and thereby trying to mislead the people, which is adversely affecting our social life. This has created fear psychosis among our people. However, I being a son of the soil and a former member of a leading students’ organisation, I request you all not to get carried away by such misinformation. Those who have indulged in such misinformation campaign do not want development of our state.
At this juncture, I would like to state that CAB is a national bill and the people of Assam need not be apprehensive of the Act. Our government is committed to safeguard the linguistic, cultural, political and land rights of the people of Assam. All of you are aware that Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi showing his intent has constituted a high-powered committee to make recommendations for implementing Clause 6 of Assam Accord. The Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah has made it unambiguously clear in the House of Parliament that the Government of India will implement the recommendations of the committee in letter and spirit as soon as they are submitted. Even Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made it clear that Government of India is committed to safeguard the prestige and dignity, language, cultural ethos, political and land rights of the people of Assam.
I am aware of the fact that you have chosen me as the Chief Minister of Assam to protect the dignity, language, culture and land rights as well as interests of the Assamese people. Our government has been working to protect the dignity, pride, language, culture, political and land rights of the people of Assam with full commitment and I assure everybody that we will be working towards this end in the coming days as well. I have nothing to hide from you in this regard. In the last three and half years, you have seen the quantum and quality of our performance, which are aimed at ensuring security of all sections of the people of Assam.
We all have to take concerted efforts for the future of the younger generation especially our student community. We have to sustain the academic atmosphere and this is our collective responsibility. I, therefore, appeal to all esteemed organisations, who are leading the protests, all community organizations along with artistes, litterateurs, intellectuals, journalists and all sections of the society to come forward and contribute to a bright future of our state. Let us all join hands to strengthen the atmosphere of peace & tranquillity and universal brotherhood for the future generation of Assam.
We sincerely believe that we can solve all outstanding issues through amicable discussions. Our government is ready to have dialogue with all the agitating organisations.
(The above message was released on behalf of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal by the CMO)
