Stop Citizenship Bill to ensure Assam does not become Tripura: Gobinda Taid

Guwahati, January 19, 2019:

Many literary organizations of Assam came together to take a stand against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. The ‘gana abosthan’ (people’s protest) was organized by the ‘Assam Sahitya Sabha’ and ‘Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabha’, in collaboration with the ‘Bodo Sahitya Sabha’.

President of the Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabhas (ITSS), Gobinda Taid, while speaking to InsideNE, said: “This Bill should be scrapped by the government. They have said that people are spreading misinformation about the Bill, but that is not the case. People of Assam want this jati destroying Bill to be scrapped so that Assam does not turn into the next Tripura. Assamese as well as indigenous language and culture will be erased. Therefore, we are requesting the Modi government to scrap the Bill."

Taid also said that the existing STs should not lose their existing rights and privileges because of the granting of ST status to the six agitating communities of Assam.

Speaking on the passing of the Bill in Lok Sabha as well as possibility of it being passed in the Rajya Sabha in the near future, the President said that Assamese people have to take part in a struggle to ensure that the Bill does not become law.

“We must raise awareness about this Bill in a democratic way in both village and town. People from all communities must come out and protest this Bill. If the government does not listen to our demands, we have to use the election platform to create a desirable outcome for the communities,” added the Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabhas President.