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Nod to Citizenship Bill sparks widespread protest

By Staff Reporter/CITY CORRESPONDENT

GUWAHATI, Jan 5 - Protesting against the Union government�s move to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, all regional units of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) today burned copies of the Bill and effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the State.

�The statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Silchar rally on January 4 is completely contrary to what he had promised to the people of Assam before the last Lok Sabha elections. The same Narendra Modi who had said the Bangladeshis would have to leave the State bag and baggage, is now paving the way for illegal migrants in the name of religion,� the organisation said.

�The fundamentalist attitude of this government is harming the democratic roots of the country sidelining the Constitution of India. It is very unfortunate that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who was once hailed as a national hero of Assam, has also failed to take a stand in favour of the people of Assam.

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) and its allies also took out a procession in the city against the Bill.

The Asom Nagarik Samaj urged all sections of the State to come out for a non-violent protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The organisation also urged all to maintain communal harmony in the State, as it is a very sensitive issue.

In a statement, it said, �The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has approved the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 despite the Statewide protest. All sections of people along with artists, writers, intellectuals and journalists of the State came out to the streets against the Bill and placed their arguments before the JPC during the hearing. But the JPC did not consider those arguments. It proves that the BJP doesn�t believe in democracy and is not ready to respond to the voices of different sections.� It alleged that the BJP is conspiring to indulge in divisive politics ahead of the upcoming general elections and urged the people of Assam to thwart the attempt.

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