GUWAHATI: A disturbing trend has emerged in Assam as several videos are circulating on WhatsApp and Social Media that shows indigenous groups of people threatening people from the Marwari and other communities in Assam.
Reports have come from other parts of the state where such groups have been emboldened and were threatening businessmen and people from other communities. One of the videos circulating on social media is from Sivasagar and it shows one arrested young man using the term 'Marwari' as some oppressor and how they have gone and shut him down.
The arrested people while being taken in the police vehicle screamed slogans of, “Marwari go back. Marwari hosiyaar!”
The youths have also threatened the Marwari Samaj of Sivasagar to behave or to leave for Rajasthan.
The state’s socio-political fabric is already sensitive with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in much debate and these incidents could lead to more damage.
Earlier, on 3rd February, the Reliance Trends (shopping arcade) at Lachit Nagar also saw sloganeering and shutdown of operations by a group of people called the “Khilonjia Adhikar Morcha.”
The “Khilonjia Adhikar Morcha” demanded justice for one of the employees of the retail outlet who had been allegedly abused for some time. Not only a hearing was done but allegedly a judgment was also delivered. This group of people is led by one Amitabh Sharma.
Sharma has uploaded a number of videos on Facebook where he is seen talking about wages, jobs and security of indigenous workers who are working with companies that are based outside the state.