GUWAHATI, Jan 20 - The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) will hold a series of programmes across the State during the coming days in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
APCC secretary and spokesperson Rhituparna Konwar said the chain of programmes are planned to further mobilise public opinion against the controversial legislation as well as to spread the views of the party on the matter among the masses.
As part of it, on January 21, the lighting of lamps and multi-faith prayer services will be conducted by all the District Congress Committees (DCCs) and the Block Congress Committees (BCCs).
�Our party members will pray to God to bring some sense to the BJP government so that it does not go ahead with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 against the will of the people of Assam,� Konwar said.
APCC will mark January 23, the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, as �Sankalp Divas�.
�Netaji fought for the people of India on the ideas of unity and secularism. The Congress party is also committed to follow the same path and so we will spread our message among people in every nook and corner of Assam, beginning that day. We will tell the people our views, including the fact that we are committed to March 25, 1971, as the cut-off year for detection and deportation of illegal immigrants. All those who came after the cut-off date will have to leave without any discrimination on the basis of religion, language or ethnicity,� Konwar said.
APCC members will hold a five-hour-long fast, from 10 am to 3 pm, on January 24 in front of all DC and SDO offices across the State to voice its opposition to the bill.
This will be followed by all DCCs and BCCs forming human chains for two hours on January 30, coinciding with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
�We want to make the people of Assam aware about the dangerous designs of the BJP. Just like Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi, the BJP also wants to finish off the country�s Constitution. BJP will deal a body blow to the Assamese identity. We are determined to fight against BJP�s agenda,� Konwar added.
On January 31, all Mandal Congress Committees will hold torchlight processions to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
