Assam: Don’t go ahead with Citizenship Bill, AGP tells Rajnath

Opposing the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has again taken up the matter in Delhi darbar.

The party, On Tuesday has again lodged another formal protest before Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh opposing the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

AGP president and Minister Atul Bora called on Singh in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum opposing the contentious Bill. Bora was accompanied by working president Keshav Mahanta.

In their memorandum, the duo had clearly reminded Singh about the pre-poll alliance arithmetic that took place between AGP and BJP.

“First and foremost condition of our alliance with BJP is translation of all provisions of the Assam Accord and in such connection we expect your active cooperation as the head of the nodal ministry for implementation of all the clauses of the Assam Accord,” the AGP leaders said in their memorandum.

They have said that Assam has already accepted the burden of illegal migrants up to 25^th march, 1971 for which it was agreed as per the Clause 6 of Assam Accord that constitutional safeguard will be provided to the state of Assam but till date no steps appears to have been taken to that effect.

Tuesday’s formal protest before the Home Minister assumes significance as the alliance partner in Assam has already threatened to snap ties with BJP “if Centre passed the Citizenship Bill in the Parliament.”

The duo said that if the Government passes the bill in the Parliament, the population structure of Assam will be changed and there will be a serious threat to the Assamese language, culture and its history and Assamese people will be reduced to minority.

The AGP leaders further said that Chief Minister of Meghalaya as well as Chief Minister of Bihar has opposed the contentious Bill.

“The Government of Meghalaya has already taken a decision opposing the proposed legislation of Amendment of Citizenship Act, 1955. Besides, Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar Ji is learnt to have expressed his intention before the representatives of All Assam Students Union to oppose the proposed legislation of Amendment of Citizenship Act, 1955,” they said.