The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora on Wednesday said the Congress will move the Supreme Court if the BJP-led Centre passes the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.
Addressing a gathering during a protest rally taken out at Pathsala, the headquarters of Bajali Sub-division in Barpeta district in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, APCC president Bora said, “The Congress will make all efforts to stop the BJP-led government in its move to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 at any cost.”
The protest rally against the Bill was taken out at Pathsala town on Wednesday under the aegis of Bhabanipur Block Congress Committee and Bajali Block Congress Committee of Barpeta district.
Ripun Bora also criticized the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which is also a partner in the BJP-led Assam government for not withdrawing its support from the government.
He also criticized the role of the BJP which promised to ensure security of the ‘Jati, Mati, Veti’ but failed to do so by proposing such a ‘dangerous’ Bill. He also blamed the AGP for tolerating dishonour of the Assam Accord for only to remain in power. He also cited the example of IMDT Act which was withdrawn on the floor of the Supreme Court.
As many as three Congress MLAs of Barpeta district – Baghbar MLA Sherman Ali, Sarukshetri MLA Jakir Hussain and Jania MLA Abdul Khaleque also took part in the rally.
At least 2500 protestors took part in the rally and shouted slogans to remove the Bill.
Santanu Sarma, president of the Barpeta District Congress Committee led in organizing the protest rally as part of the statewide protest which started from May 14 to May 24 by the APCC in various districts of the State.
Arun Das, president of Bajali Block Congress and Fakaruddin Ahmed, president of the Bhabanipur Block Congress along with other party workers and leaders of various levels took part in the rally.
The protestors gathered at Rajib Bhavan, Pathsala and started their protest rally from Azad Bhawan, Pathsala and went to the SDO (Civil) office premises.
The collected 50000 signatures against the Bill will be submitted to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Bill. Earlier another 1.5 lakh signatures were collected and those were submitted at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Barpeta, informed Ripun Bora.