DIBRUGARH, May 12 - The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 continues to be opposed in various parts of the district and by various organizations including journalists, literary and trade organizations.
Several people took part in the two-hour-long protest organized in Rajgarh town intersection by the journalists of Tingkhong Assembly constituency against the proposed Bill. The journalist body said that the proposed amendment in the Act is highly inimical to the indigenous people of Assam and to the federal structure of the state and, therefore, it needs to be withdrawn.
In a joint memorandum later submitted to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 through the local administration, the demonstrating members said that at the moment, based on Assam Accord, at the intervention of the Supreme Court of India and on the instruction of the Central government, Assam is engaged in an intensive updating of the National Register for Citizens (NRC) to include people permanently residing in the State till March 24, 1971 and to treat them alone as genuine citizens of the country. The State of Assam is already overburdened with high influx of foreign nationals from Bangladesh, causing serious economic and social distress and identity crisis for the indigenous communities of Assam. Under such circumstances, the proposed amendment poses as an existential threat to the existing indigenous communities, the memorandum read.
The signatories in the memorandum included members from the Krishak Mukti Sangram Sammittee (KMSS), All Dibrugarh District Students� Union, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Asomiya Yuva Mancha, Tai Ahom Chatra Sanstha, Assam Tea Tribes� Students� Association (ATTSA), Gorkha Union, Bhojpuri Yuba Chatra Parishad, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, Hoseton Nagarik Mancha, Karmachari Parishad, traders of Rajgarh and the Tingkhong Constituency Journalists� Union.
The Sadou Asom Kabi Sanmilan (Poets Forum) also staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner yesterday evening and later submitted a memorandum to the district administration, expressing its strongest opposition to the proposed amendment in the Citizenship Act. The demonstration was led by Rajen Bora and Pabitra Gogoi, president and secretary respectively of the district unit of Sadou Asom Kabi Sanmilan. Members from Uttar Purb Uddyugi Nari Sanstha, Women Wing of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Parishad and ATTSA also took part in the demonstration.
Our Correspondent from Rangiya adds: Local public in collaboration with different organizations, student bodies including AJYCP and representatives from other bodies like Lekhika Samaroh Samiti took out a protest rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, here today.
A large number of women spontaneously participated in it, which started from Rangiya Raijmel Swahid Krishak Bhawan through the main town via NT Road. It finally culminated at the said Raijmel Bhavan premises.
Later, a meeting was held where leaders from different organisations unanimously advocated against the amendment of the Bill. A play was also staged in this regard by the young artistes of Natural Natya Gosthi of the locality. A joint memo was also submitted to the Kamrup Deputy Commissioner in this connection.
