Assamese youth threaten to convert to Buddhism if Citizenship Bill is passed

Guwahati, November 9, 2018:

Even as Assam remains on the boil in the wake of widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, a group of Assamese youth has threatened to forego Hinduism and embrace Buddhism if the Central government passes the controversial bill.

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Some 50 youth, all of them Hindus, who are from Numaligarh and leaders of various organisations, took a pledge in this regard at a Buddhist temple in Karbi Anglong on Friday.

“If the government threatens the existence of the Assamese people by passing the Citizenship Bill, then we will convert to Buddhism. We will give priority to the Assamese interests over Hinduism. We will not allow a community to be wiped off for the sake of religion. Religion cannot be greater than a community. To safeguard the Assamese, we will give up Hinduism if it so warrants,” a youth was heard saying in a video.

He added: “We have taken a pledge at this Buddhist temple in Karbi Anglong. Thousands of Assamese youth are in touch with us. If the RSS wants to destroy Assam by bringing the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, we will give up Hinduism and convert to Buddhism. We want to tell (Chief Minister) Sarbananda Sonowal and (BJP MLA) Shiladitya Dev that the Assamese community, which bravely fought the Mughals 17 times, doesn’t need the imported Bangladeshis to protect the community”.

Over the past few months, the bill has united various Assamese groups and organisations. Amidst the protests against the bill, Assam had seen some disillusioned youth joining the Paresh Baruah faction of rebel group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-Independent). Later, one of them was heard saying in a video that only the ULFA-I could protect the Assamese community.