The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has strongly opposed the Indian government’s decision to extend the citizenship deadline under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) from December 31, 2014, to December 31, 2024. AJP believes this move is a “conspiracy to destroy the future of Assamese people.”
AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi spoke out against the decision during a press conference. He reminded everyone about the large protests in Assam in 2019, when people voiced their strong opposition to the CAA. Gogoi explained that the people of Assam have always rejected the law, which they see as a threat to their culture and identity.
He expressed concerns that the government is adding ten more years for illegal immigration to grow. “Assam has faced illegal immigration for the last 43 years. Now, they want it to continue for another 10 years. This means indigenous people could suffer for over 50 years. It’s an attack on our culture and very existence,” Gogoi said.
Gogoi accused the central government of conspiring against Assam and called for the state to be exempted from implementing the law. He said, “If the government truly considers Assam part of India, it should not enforce the CAA here.”
The AJP leader also criticized Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Gogoi reminded everyone that the CM had earlier promised that the CAA deadline wouldn’t be extended. “But now, Sarma keeps changing his statements during elections to mislead voters. His promises mean nothing,” Gogoi alleged, saying that the people are suffering due to political betrayal.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tried to downplay the immediate effect of the law in Assam. He stated that since the CAA became law two years ago, it hasn’t made much difference here. “Only 12 people in Assam have applied for citizenship, and three have been approved. The remaining applications are still being checked,” Sarma explained. He noted that earlier predictions suggested 20-25 lakh people could benefit from the law, but so far, that hasn’t happened, indicating there hasn’t been a large influx of immigrants.
In other news, the Union Government’s Home Ministry extended the deadline for entry under the Citizenship Amendment Act to December 31, 2024. This allows persecuted minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan—like Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians—to stay in India, even if they don’t have valid travel documents.
The debate over the CAA’s impact continues, with critics warning about the future of Assam’s culture and identity, while supporters focus on the legal provisions for minorities.
