GUWAHATI, April 18 - In a democratic country, the Government must listen to the views of the masses. As all sections of indigenous people of Assam are against giving citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshi nationals, the Government of India should withdraw the Citizenship Amendment Bill brought in this regard. This is the view of the All Assam Students� Union (AASU).
Talking to The Assam
Tribune, Chief adviser of the AASU, Samujjal Bhattacharya said that if the Government respects democratic norms, it should immediately withdraw the Citizenship Amendment Bill as no indigenous person of Assam supports the idea of providing citizenship to Bangladeshi nationals, who came to Assam after the midnight of March 24, 1971.
Bhattacharya said that the AASU and 29 organizations representing different ethnic groups of the State have already launched a mass movement against the Centre�s move and efforts are on to involve all sections of indigenous people of the State in the movement. He said that the AASU would also make efforts to take genuine Indian citizens, who are permanent citizens of the State, on board in the movement.
The AASU chief adviser pointed out that the Parliamentary panel formed to discuss the issue with the people of the State also failed to carry out its job properly and no effort has been made to consult the organizations representing various ethnic groups of the State and senior citizens. The panel only held discussions with a few parties and organizations so far and no effort has been made to know the views of cross sections of people of the State, he added.
