Guwahati: The All Assam Students Union (AASU), led by President Utpal Sharma, staged an 11-hour protest at Dighalipukhuri in Guwahati on Thursday, demanding the deportation of illegal immigrants from Assam and full implementation of the Assam Accord. The protest, which began at 6 AM, was also observed in districts across the state.

The demonstration came in response to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification extending the deadline for granting Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) until December 31, 2024. AASU rejected the MHA’s notification, reiterating that “regardless of religion, all foreigners, whether Hindus or Muslims, must leave Assam.”

Speaking to the media, Utpal Sharma emphasized the immediate eviction of illegal immigrants, the prior implementation of the Assam Accord, and called for the repeal of the recently implemented Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. He also urged that the Indo-Bangla border be sealed like the Indo-Pakistan border and strict vigilance maintained to prevent illegal immigration.

Sharma paid tribute to the five martyrs who lost their lives during anti-CAA protests, stating that their sacrifices should not be rendered meaningless by granting citizenship to foreign nationals. He further criticized the Assam government for accepting immigrants under the CAA and demanded that Assam be excluded from the Act, citing the state’s ongoing demographic pressure.

The student body vowed to continue protests against the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which they claim was imposed without proper consultation.