"There is no place for fundamentalists and illegal Bangladeshis in Assam. Jihadists, fundamentalists and Al Qaedas have to be evicted from the state immediately," AASU advisor and former president Sammujal Bhattacharjee said while addressing the gathering.
"Because of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's laxity illegal migration from Bangladesh has increased. With illegal migrants entry into Assam from Bangladesh also come in fundamentalists elements," Bhattacharjee said.
He also called for the Assam government and Centre to take measures to halt the menace of illegal immigration. He alleged the migrants had encroached on the Kaziranga National Park and farmers' agricultural fields.
The 'Satyagraha' rally began from Latasil Field and went through the main thoroughfares of the capital city protesting the growth of fundamentalism in the state, demanding to declare the problem of perennial floods and erosions in the state as a national problem and the protection of Majuli, the world's largest river island in Assam.
Reminiscent of the AASU's six-year-long anti-foreigners Assam Agitation of the 80's, thousands of people, including students, participated in the procession shouting slogans, carrying placards and banners in support of their demands, including upgradation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).