MASSIVE PROTEST AGAINST THE CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT BILL AT THE FACE OF JPC’S HEARING IN GUWAHATI

A red letter day for Assam

The Citizenship Amendment  Bill 2016 has garnered a large scale protest  across the state at the face of the Public hearing on the bill by JPC in Guwahati. Around 5000 people from all quarters including intellectuals, journalist, members from film fraternity, organizations both political and non-political had assembled at the premises of Assam Administrative Staff College to stage Protest against the citizenship amendment bill. The bill if passed would nullify the Assam Accord and the whole updating process of the NRC will be a futile activity.

The Assamese film fraternity had stood upright against the bill voicing their protest.

Speaking to Inside NE, Prastuti Parashar, a renown figure of the the Assamese film industry said that Assam has always fallen a prey and had been always treated from ‘step mother's perspective by the Centre. The bill if passed will see a large scale agitation like that of the Language Movement of 1960 which saw the sacrifices and bloodsheds of many.

Akashitora speaking to Inside NE said “This reminds me of my childhood days when we're beaten up by the CRPF Jawans for participation in the movement of AASU. The Assam Accord was the result of the sacrifices incurred by people over the years. Such was the power of the movement that it brought a new govt.  In the State.” She strongly opposed the Citizenship Amendment Bill quoting her bygone days.

Manas Robin, another known figure of the film industry opposed the bill saying that it will pose a serious threat to the identity of the Assamese people.

Barsha Rani Bishaya also came forward to oppose the bill. The quoted “ Stop making a farce of the sentiments of the Assamese People. We will no longer carry the burden of illegal immigrants irrespective of religious affiliation “

Speaking to Inside NE, peasant leader Akhil Gogoi stated that such a step is an ultra virus to the the features of the Constitution.He further added that such Assam will take to arms if such a bill is ever accepted. Speaking of CM, Sarbananda Sonowal he said “The claimed ‘Jatinayak’ is nowhere to be seen to protect the rights of the people,  or may be dabbed underneath the pressure of BJP-RSS.

The General Secretary of All Assam Students, Union Lurin Jyoti Gogoi firmly opposed the bill. He stay that over the years people have given their blood and flashed, have been martyred,  have been plagued to maintain the identity of Assam. He urged the people to come forward to take the matter to the Centre to take tangible steps to maintain the republican nature of Assam.

Renown Journalist Haider Hussain stated that the visit of JPC is nothing but a mere show off,  a hoodwink to deceive the people as the Chairman of JPC already stated that there should not be any problem to allocate citizenship on the basis of religion since the very Partition had roots on religious grounds  

Thus only time will unveil if the present dithering state of the Assamese identity will ever be resolved.