SENAPATI, Dec 10: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), a collective representing eight major student bodies from the indigenous communities of the North East, will observe December 11 as a “Black Day” across the Northeastern states to mark its continued opposition against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019.

In a statement, NESO reminded the people of the North East that despite strong opposition from the region’s indigenous communities, the Government of India passed the controversial law in the Rajya Sabha on December 11, 2019. The CAA, which expedites citizenship for non-Muslim minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, has sparked widespread criticism from student groups and indigenous organizations due to concerns over its potential impact on the region’s demographic composition and cultural identity.

The organization, which includes prominent student bodies such as the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), and All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), announced that the day would be observed by displaying black flags and black banners at key locations across all seven North Eastern states.

NESO emphasized that the observance of this “Black Day” is meant to highlight the “political injustice” it believes has been inflicted upon the indigenous peoples of the North East. The organization reiterated its strong opposition to the CAA, urging the Government of India to address the concerns and rights of the region’s indigenous communities.