Politics Nokoriba Bondhu (Don’t do politics, friend), sang Assam’s most popular singer Zubeen Garg, while appealing to the assembled crowd at Latasil playground on Thursday to protest peacefully and democratically against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

“We must stand united to display the might of the indigenous people but we must not forget to maintain peace and democratic values. Assam should reject the CAB at any cost, we do not need to fear to register our voices against CAB,” said Zubeen.

Zubeen’s song took digs at the powers-that-be for sacrificing the interests of the state for political gains. He had composed it before the protests against CAB when it was to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha early this year, just before the 2019 general elections. The song immediately struck a chord with the thousands who had gathered at the protest meeting organised by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) against the bill.

Zubeen wasn’t the only celebrity to have joined the protest.

Another popular singer, Manas Robin, also hummed lines from his song, Aji Desh Jagise, Jati Jagise, Jiyar Thokar Mon, Akou Joi Aai Axom (The state is rising, people are rising, with a mind to live, Joi Aai Axom once again) while participating in the protests and criticising the imposition of the CAB.

Other big names such as Jatin Bora, Barsha Rani Bishaya, Zublee Baruah and Bidyasagar were also there.

Leading intellectuals, senior journalists and lawyers too participated in the protest.

“The interest of the people is more important than my career. I am what I am because of the people. I cannot sit at home with my family and turn my back on the people,” said actor Bora, who resigned from the ruling BJP and his from post as chairman of the Assam Film Finance Development Corporation, in accordance with an appeal by his fans and fellow celebrities, including Zubeen.

Barsha was emphatic in her support for the protest against the CAB. “We will not accept the CAB by any means. Nobody can thrust it on us. We have lost faith in our political leaders,” she said.

Barsha has been joining the protesters in the past few days, walking with fellow artistes from Chandmari to Dighalipukhuri.