AJYCP Launches Protest Against Citizenship Bill ahead of Winter Session of Parliament

Guwahati, November 15, 2019:

Assam has again risen in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, ahead of the winter session of the Parliament that is scheduled from November 18 to December 13.

As announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be introducing a new form of Citizenship Bill in the winter session, people of Assam have moved to the street, which includes students’ bodies, indigenous organizations, civil society, etc.

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The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) on Friday launched a statewide protest against the Citizenship Bill.

In Guwahati, protestors have demonstrated in front of the Meghdoot Bhawan. The protestors have expressed that they will not accept the bill at any cost. “The bill is a serious threat to the indigenous people of Assam and if the demand of the people is not considered, we will launch a massive protest", a protester warned.

The protestors added, “Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was elected to represent the people of Assam and named the ‘Jatiya Nayak’, but the leader has forgotten the people. The BJP government is trying to impose this Bill without the consent of the people.”

Meanwhile, All Assam Student Union (AASU) chief Samujjal Bhattacharya has also announced to launch a mass agitation against the Bill all across the state.

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The final decision will be given out by the parliament’s Business Advisory Committee. There is a possibility that the base year for citizenship will be considered as 1951. However, there are also chances that the bill will be include changes for people’s movement in the state from 1951 to 2014.

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