The Brihattar Zoo-Narengi Anchalik Unnayan Samiti and the Zoo-Narengi Tiniali Byabashai Santha on Wednesday jointly organised a public meeting in protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central Government’s move to grant Indian citizenship to illegal migrants including Hindu Bangladeshsi by implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Talking to Northeast Now, All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who was also present in the public meeting here, said, “Despite protests, the Central Government has not scrapped the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 yet, which is an insult to the voice of the indigenous people of Assam.”
Criticising the State Government on the issue, Gogoi said, “The State Government has maintained silence in the matter even after the Government has witnessed united protests against the Centre’s move to pass the Bill in the Parliament.”
“A section of people have taken advantage of the Government’s silence. If this silence of the Government creates problem in the State in future, then the Government would be responsible for that,” Gogoi said.
Talking about the article ‘Asome Bangalir Sarasajya’ by former Vice-Chancellor of Assam University Tapodhir Bhattacharya, published in Aajkaal on July 3 last where he made controversial comments on the NRC and the Assamese people, AASU leader Gogoi questioned, “Is the Government helping people like the former VC of Assam University to write or speak against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Assamese community?”
Bringing allegations against the BJP-led Government both at the State and the Centre, Gogoi also said, “The BJP-led Government both at the State and the Centre has been doing vote-bank politics.”
Meanwhile, senior journalist Adip Kumar Phukan alleged the Central Government has moved to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 following instructions from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
He said, “The Bill would pose a serious threat to the identity of the greater Assamese community if it is passed in the Parliament. The BJP has been trying to convert the nation into a Hindu nation. That is why the Government has not given importance in this matter.”
People of the locality also attended the meeting held at Brindaban Garden, Zoo Road Tiniali in Guwahati.