'BJP Will Open Doors to a Bangladeshi Invasion with Citizenship Bill': Former Assam CM Prafulla Mahanta

Abhayapuri, October 14, 2019:

Former Assam Chief Minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) founder Prafulla Kr. Mahanta on Monday criticized the BJP-led Central Government and alleged that the Centre does not care about the aspirations of the people of Assam.

Mahanta, while speaking at the 34th Foundation Day of the AGP party in a special celebration at Abhayapuri in Bongaigaon distict, accused the Government of opening the doors of Assam to illegal infiltration.

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Mahanta said, "In the run up to the election, they (the BJP) assured the people of Assam that they would protect the identity of the State. Securing 'jati, mati and bheti' was the poll slogan of the BJP. However, by seeking to amend the Citizenship Act of 1955, they have opened the floodgates to a Bangladeshi invasion."

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It may be mentioned here that Mahanta has been very vocal in his opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, and he, along with party president Atul Baruah, moved to Delhi to protest the Bill after cutting ties with the BJP. The Government later withdrew the Bill, but the AGP went on to later re-join the BJP ahead of the 2019 polls.

The Indian Citizenship Amendment Bill was proposed in the Lok Sabha on July 19, 2016, amending the Citizenship Act of 1955. If this Bill is passed in the Parliament, illegal migrants from minority communities like Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian coming from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan will be eligible for Indian citizenship.

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