Citizenship Bill Row: Akhil Gogoi calls for 'Complete Shutdown' in Assam

Demow, December 11, 2019:

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi on Wednesday, addressing a gathering of anti-Citizenship Bill protesters at Demow town in Sibsagar, said that the people must stage a complete economic blockade as a mark of dissent against the controversial Bill.

"We should close down the oil depots, the buses, the tempos, and the shops, that would be for the best", Gogoi told the gathering, who nodded in assent and cried chants of "Joi Aai Asom" (glory to mother Assam).

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Stating the Bill is likely to be passed at around 2 pm, Gogoi informed that he is currently engaging in discussions with the opposition parties such as Aam Aadmi Party, RJD, Trinamool Congress, and Congress. However, Gogoi also said that the Bill is likely to pass the Rajya Sabha test as well, due to the BJP having a majority in the House.

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"Once the Bill is passed, 1.9 crore Bangladeshi migrants will become the burden of Assam. While Manipur has been given the Inner Line Permit, so now, Assam is the only state that shall have to bear the burden of the Bangladeshis", Gogoi said.

The peasant leader appealed the people of the state to bring trade and economic activities to a complete halt, to protest against the Centre's move to implement the Bill. "Send this message to India and the world...that Assam will never accept the Bill at any cost", said Gogoi.

Meanwhile, the Citizenship Bill, which has sparked protests across the entire Northeastern region, is expected to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha in the afternoon. It was earlier passed in the Lok Sabha with an overwhelming majority.

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