DIBRUGARH, Jan 24 - The Dibrugarh District Congress Committee (DDCC) today staged a five-hour long sit-in demonstration at Chowkidinghee in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.
The leaders of the district unit of the Indian National Congress (INC) and DDCC president Atuwa Munda took part in the demonstration. The party workers expressed their strong opposition to the proposed amendment.
It is expected that the Congress will oppose the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, which is likely to be placed for approval on January 31.
North Lakhimpur Correspondent adds: The Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) have intensified their protest against the Citizenship Bill as senior leaders of the parties today staged hunger strike. The Congress members observed a token hunger strike in front the Deputy Commissioner office here, while the AGP members staged a hunger strike at Tyagkshetra.
Later talking to this correspondent Utpal Dutta, MLA and senior AGP leader criticised Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for his role in extending support to the Bill. �Sonowal should oppose the Citizenship Bill as he always talks on jati mati bheti,� he said. In this context, he said that the Bill would allow Bangladeshi to enter the State which will create a complicated situation in the future. On Wednesday, various organizations staged a protest programme in North Lakhimpur against Bill. The sit-on-protest programme was attended by the members of AASU, AJYCP, KMS and MASS. A torchlight procession was also taken out across North Lakhimpur by KMSS members against the Bill.
Dhubri Correspondent adds: The members of the Congress today staged a hunger strike against the Citizenship Bill.
Talking to this correspondent, president of Dhubri district Congress Uttam Sarkar claimed that the Bill would severely affect the people of the State. He also added that BJP is trying to divide the people through this Bill for its narrow political gain. �Our leaders have already registered a strong protest at the national level,� he said.
The members later submitted a memorandum to the President of India urging him to take steps in this regard.
