DIBRUGARH, March 18 - Several senior Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leaders and indigenous organisations who stand against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill-2016 and are totally averse to the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mainly for the latter�s stand on the controversial Bill, have shown keenness for the National People�s Party (NPP), the political party started by former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma, the father of Meghalaya Chief Minister and national NPP president Conrad Sangma.
Former AGP loyalists like former minister Bhaben Baruah and others from the regional party have resolved to bring all leaders and organisations opposing the CAB within the NPP.
The leaders held a meeting on Sunday with local intellectuals here, which was attended by NPP Assam co-convenor Kamala Rajkonwar. Among others, an organisation called Ahom Royal Society has actively participated in the NPP event.
Rajkonwar told newsmen here today that several active political leaders from other parties and more than 20 indigenous organisations had already extended their support for NPP.
�Our main issue is the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill-2016. We will bring together all those who stand against this Bill,� he said.
The meeting, organised at the Government Pensioners� Bhawan at Jibon Phukan Nagar here resolved to hold meetings in each Assembly segment of Dibrugarh Lok Sabha area to woo people to their party.
�We have despatched the joining forms to all the Assembly constituencies in the district and have distributed them to several members in the city here. We will invite NPP president during the en masse joining of new members here,� said a local NPP functionary.
The newly-joined NPP leaders from the region said that they are motivated by the bold stand taken by Conrad Sangma against the CAB.
�As long as NPP stands for the rights of the indigenous people of Assam, the party will grow stronger in the state. We will ask the central leadership also to incorporate in the NPP manifesto issues like Inner Line Permit, right over natural resources and several other socio-economic issues pertaining to the overall development of the state,� said Rajkonwar.
The meeting virtually sounded its poll bugle in Dibrugarh as they informed newsmen that NPP will field candidates in Dibrugarh too. So far, four members have already applied for contesting from Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat under the NPP banner, it is learnt.
