Lurinjyoti Gogoi
AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi delivering a speech at a public meeting in Guwahati against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. Image - Northeast Now

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 Governmentโ€™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 Studentsโ€™ Union (AASU) general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who was also present in the public meeting here, said, โ€œDespite 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.โ€

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Criticising the State Government on the issue, Gogoi said, โ€œThe State Government has maintained silence in the matter even after the Government has witnessed united protests against the Centreโ€™s move to pass the Bill in the Parliament.โ€

โ€œA section of people have taken advantage of the Governmentโ€™s silence. If this silence of the Government creates problem in the State in future, then the Government would be responsible for that,โ€ Gogoi said.

Talking about the article โ€˜Asome Bangalir Sarasajyaโ€™ 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, โ€œIs 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?โ€

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Bringing allegations against the BJP-led Government both at the State and the Centre, Gogoi also said, โ€œThe BJP-led Government both at the State and the Centre has been doing vote-bank politics.โ€

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, โ€œThe 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.โ€

People of the locality also attended the meeting held at Brindaban Garden, Zoo Road Tiniali in Guwahati.

Mukut Das is Northeast Now Trainee Copy Editor. He can be reached at: [email protected]