GUWAHATI, Oct 31 – Several organisations have called for bandhs to register their protest against yesterday’s serial blasts that took over 77 lives so far. While the Sadou Assam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP) has decided to observe November 1 as a black day in protest against the blasts, the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chattra Parishad (AJYCP) today burnt the effigy of the jehadi and fundamentalist forces. Members of the All Guwahati Students’ Union (AGSU), the city unit of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), burnt the effigy of the Union Home Minister in protest against the failure of the Central Government to check illegal migration and infiltration of the Bangladesh-based jehadis.

While the State wings of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal have separated called for a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh tomorrow, the AASU and the Assam Chambers’ of Commerce have given separate calls for a 24-hour Assam bandh from 5 am of November 3 in protest against the serial blasts.

AASU general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi and advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya said at a press conference here today that though their organisation had abstained from resorting to bandh for over two and half a years, yesterday incidents had compelled them to go for a bandh on November 3.

The AASU will also take out processions at district headquarters on November 6 in protest against the alleged protection provided to fundamentalist forces and Bangladeshi nationals by the State Government.

The AASU leaders also reiterated their resolve to hang the effigies of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister at public places at the district and sub-divisional headquarters on November 1 in protest against the October 30 blasts.

Members of the AASU local units will hold silent prayer for one minute and light earthen lamps for the eternal peace of the souls of those killed in blasts, said the AASU leaders.

The AASU leaders alleged that the blasts were the handiwork of the fundamentalist HUJI and its like-minded organisations. The spots of the blasts were located in the indigenous people dominated areas, they said and dared the Government to explain how the car bombs used in the blasts could enter the city.

The serial blasts in the State were the products of the indulgence result by the State and the Central Governments towards illegal migrants and fundamentalist forces. The vote bank politics of the Government is to blame for the tragic incidents, asserted the AASU leaders.

The AJYCP has demanded steps to deploy Army to contain the jehadi and fundamentalist forces in the State, and also attributed the blasts to the vote bank politics of the Government.

Several other organisations have condemned the blasts. The organisations include the Assam State Commission for Women, Assam Pradeshik Mahila Samity, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Assam Tribune Employees’ Union, Save Guwahati Build Guwahati, All Assam Non-Tribal Students’ Union, Big 92.7 FM, Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union, All India Trade Union Congress, city unit of the Nationalist Congress Party, Cooperative City Bank Employees’ Association, teachers and students of B Borooah College and the All Assam Muslim Council.

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