Assam bandh called on Oct 23 against Citizenship Bill 2016
42 organisations, have jointly called for a 12-hour Assam bandh on October 23 against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 .
Guwahati
As many as 42 organisations, have jointly called for a 12-hour Assam bandh on October 23 to register their protest against the Union government’s move for passage of the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 on the floor of the parliament.
The leaders of 42 organisations including the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS), Asom Jatiyadabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU ) in a meeting have decided to call the bandh on October 23 in protest against the BJP government’s decision to go ahead with the controversial Citizenship Bill.” informed KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi .
Significantly, on October 23, the JPC will be meeting in New Delhi to hear opinion from officials of ministry of home affairs (MHA) and ministry of external affairs (MEA) on the Bill.
Gogoi slammed the joint parliamentary committee(JPC) on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill for going to hold meeting with the officials of ministry of home affairs (MHA) and ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the Bill without visiting Assam for the second time to take the views of individuals and organisations of the state, which have been opposing the Bill.
“When the JPC had visited Assam in May, the panel assured us that it would visit the state once again but now without paying any visit, they are going to hold meeting with home as well as external affairs ministry. We strongly oppose such a move,” Gogoi also said.
Meanwhile, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), an ally of the BJP government, is going to hold a mass rally in Assam on October 23 opposing the Bill.
Senior AGP leader Kamala Kalita told reporters that AGP delegation will be going to New Delhi and meet every JPC members. “We have met the JPC during its hearing in Assam and expressed our reservations regarding the proposed Bill. We are not going to accept the passing of the Bill at any cost,” Kalita said.
The Bill aimed at making minority communities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for applying for Indian citizenship is under the consideration of Joint parliamentary committee of both the Houses.
