GUWAHATI: The Assam Christian Forum (ACF), an ecumenical body of churches in Assam, has appealed to the community to keep in mind the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) that rocked the state since December 2019 and claimed the life of a teenager in police action.
The leading Christian body said no Christians have come to Assam from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan because of religious persecution, and thus the Act has no meaning for the community in the state. The forum reminded them of the death of Sam Stafford, the 17-year-old student, who died in police action when anti-CAA protests had reached its peak. The legislation will only have a negative impact on the social fabric of the state, it stressed.
“The Constitution has to be protected at any cost. In Assam, any migrant should not get citizenship only for his or her religious affiliation,” said ACF spokesperson, Allen Brooks.
Christianity is the third largest religious group in Assam, with the population of Christians being 1,165,867, making up 3.74 percent of the total population of the state as per the 2011 census. It is said to be one of the fastest growing religions in Assam. “We are not in favour of driving out others in order to accomodate Christians,” Brooks added.
Members of regional organizations which were in the forefront of the anti-CAA agitations have announced that the sacrifice of Sam Stafford won’t go in vain. Politicians had made a beeline for Sam’s home to console the family when the protests were still on.
In Assam, the ruling BJP is silent on the CAA issue, which had emotionally brought thousands of people to the protest path till the outbreak of the virus. Contrary to this, the opposition Congress is playing up the issue and ‘guaranteed’ that their government would bring legislation to resist the implementation of CAA.
“Many people have forgotten Sam. But the people of Assam must remember the sacrifice of the five martyrs of the anti-CAA movement, when they go to vote. These innocent people did not die without any cause, ” rued Mousumi Begum, Sam’s sister.
People from minority communities should be given representation at all levels of governance and administration, the forum maintained. “Let there be free and fair elections!” and “Let us all live in love, freedom, and dignity!” was the twin appeal of the forum.
“Governments should affirm the constitutional freedom of minority institutions with regard to their curricula and spiritual commitments. Similarly, Acts such as FCRA should not be implemented with prejudice and bias to suppress the noble services of Civil Society Organizations (NGOs) and minority bodies. Nobody should be unjustly victimized by the promulgation of CAA,” it said.