Kokrajhar, Assam, turned into a hub of political dissent on Tuesday, September 2, as the All-BTR Bengali Youth Student Federation (BYFSF) held a massive protest. Hundreds of students and activists gathered to demand immediate government action to resolve the long-standing D-Voter issue in Assam.
The protest began in the morning near the Kokrajhar District Commissioner’s office. Slogans echoed across the area as protesters carried placards and banners, pressing authorities to address what they described as a humanitarian and constitutional crisis.
Understanding the D-Voter problem
The D-Voter, or Doubtful Voter, tag has been a contentious topic in Assam for decades. It refers to individuals whose citizenship status is under question, preventing them from voting or accessing key government benefits. Many families have spent years fighting legal battles in Foreigners’ Tribunals to prove their Indian citizenship.
BYFSF leaders stressed that the issue has disproportionately impacted Bengali-origin communities in Assam. Protesters argued that genuine citizens continue to face harassment and discrimination due to flawed verification processes.
Student leaders demand fair investigation
BYFSF President Rajib Das addressed the gathering and said the protest was a call for justice. “The D-Voter problem has destroyed lives for decades. Innocent people are being labeled as foreigners without proper evidence. We demand a fair and transparent verification process,” he declared.
Das also urged the Assam government to collaborate with the central government to set up a special task force to review pending cases. According to him, families have been forced to spend their life savings on legal proceedings while living under constant fear of detention.
Protesters emphasize urgency of the matter
The protestors submitted a memorandum to the Kokrajhar district administration outlining their demands. They called for an immediate halt to issuing new D-Voter notices until the verification process is reformed.
Speakers at the rally emphasized that the issue was not only legal but deeply humanitarian. “We are not against NRC or citizenship verification,” said student leader Nandita Saha. “But labeling citizens as doubtful without proof is unconstitutional. The government must act now.”
The protest witnessed participation from students, social activists, and local community leaders. Many families shared personal stories of facing stigma and financial hardship due to their D-Voter status.
Historical context of the D-Voter controversy
The D-Voter category was first introduced in Assam during the electoral roll revision in 1997. Since then, thousands have been marked as doubtful voters, leading to prolonged legal struggles.
The controversy intensified after the publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in 2019, which excluded over 19 lakh people. Critics argue that the D-Voter tag disproportionately affects marginalized communities and disrupts lives even when individuals are later declared Indian citizens.
Call for government intervention
The BYFSF’s memorandum urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to ensure immediate policy reforms. The federation also appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs for a centralized framework to handle citizenship disputes.
Protesters demanded a single-window grievance redressal system to ease the verification process and reduce harassment at the grassroots level.
Public sentiment and online response
The Kokrajhar protest quickly gained traction on social media. Photos and videos of students raising slogans spread across platforms, drawing attention from political commentators and rights activists.
Many users expressed solidarity, calling for a humanitarian approach to citizenship verification. Analysts suggested that if the issue remains unresolved, protests could spread to other districts in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and beyond.
Future plans for agitation
BYFSF leaders announced plans to escalate the movement if the government fails to respond. They warned that they would organize a statewide protest and seek intervention from national human rights organizations.
“The government cannot ignore us anymore,” Rajib Das stated. “We are citizens of this country, and we will continue our peaceful movement until every innocent person gets justice.”
A growing call for justice in Assam
The Kokrajhar protest highlights growing frustration among marginalized communities over the D-Voter system. Activists believe that political will and administrative reform are essential to end decades of uncertainty for thousands of families.
The issue continues to spark debate in Assam’s political circles, with observers warning that unresolved citizenship disputes could influence future elections.
For readers seeking detailed information on Assam’s NRC and citizenship verification, visit the Election Commission of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs websites for official updates.
