Government making us guinea pigs for communal policies: Lurin Jyoti Gogoi

Guwahati, January 23, 2019:

The anti Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 protestors have descended in great numbers on Guwahati’s Latasil playground. The protestors have named this protest ‘Bajra Ninad’ (scream with the intensity of thunder). All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) Chief Advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya as well as musical heartthrob Zubeen Garg are some of the key dignitaries present at the event..

Lurin Jyoti Gogoi, General Secretary of AASU and one of the staunchest opposers of the Bill, has also lent his voice to the anti-Bill Movement while speaking exclusively to InsideNE from the venue:

“This is a historic playground. Latasil is a weapon of struggle. A new wave of struggle will begin here to end struggle against the Government’s conspiracy” he stated, addressing the significance of the venue.

“Despite many protests, they have not lent an ear to our struggle. Showing a middle finger to democratic protests, they are trying to force this (Bill) through in an unconstitutional manner", he added.

Speaking on the possibility of the Bill being passed in the Rajya Sabha or a joint Parliamentary session, he said: “Meanwhile, they have passed it in the Lok Sabha, and they are hellbent on passing the Bill in the Rajya Sabha through floor management or any other way.”

He also appealed to the government to scrap the Bill: “Do not burden us with such an unconstitutional and Assam Accord nullifying Bill and do not make us guinea pigs for your communal policies.”

Lastly, the AASU General Secretary encouraged people of the Northeast to join hands in protests against the Bill: “We implore people of the Northeast to continue struggles against the Bill. We should also prepare to give an answer to the Government’s backstabbing and thus, AASU implores people to come forward.”