AASU Leader Samujjal Bhattacharya Calls Upon Assam CM Sonowal to Oppose CAB

Guwahati, November 18, 2019:

The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) Chief Adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya on Monday weighed in on the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, and called upon Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to oppose the Bill.

Addressing the media here today, Bhattacharya said that the Chief Minister of Assam must finally take a stand against the Bill. "In 1949, Nehru and Patel wanted land to house refugees, but Gopinath Bordoloi declined. Nehru and Patel then threatened to stop economic aid if the demands were not met, but the Assamese leaders took a stand", he said.

Responding to the BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma's assurances that the Bill will not affect the indigenous people of the Northeast, the AASU leader said, "Has Home Minister Amit Shah or Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that? Modi had even resolved to deport Bangaldeshis, but now he is inviting them". He further added that this Bill will encourage Bangladeshis to come to Assam en masse.

"The Clause 5 of the Assam Accord, according to which, no foreigner who entered Assam after 1971 can claim citizenship, must be maintained at any cost", he added.

Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill have been held across the Northeast, with pressure groups demanding the Government to withdraw the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

ALSO READ: Ranu Mondal Turns Diva for Fashion Show, Walks Ramp for Designer

Constituents of the Northeast Students' Organization (NESO) have also held protests in front of the Raj Bhawans, make their displeasure with the Bill clear to the Central Government. It may be mentioned here that the new draft of the Citizenship Bill will be tabled in the ongoing winter session of the Parliament.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.

Readers like you make Inside Northeast’s work possible.

To support our brand of fearless and investigative journalism, support us HERE.

Download:

The Inside Northeast app HERE for News, Views, and Reviews from Northeast India.

Do keep following us for news on-the-go. We deliver the Northeast