A CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Tuesday told Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) will not be accepted in Assam. “We have told Home Minister that Assam will not accept CAB as it violates the basic principles of the Assam Accord,” said AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya after the meeting in New Delhi late Tuesday night.
Talking to The Sentinel, Bhattacharya alleged the BJP government of violating its promise “made during the last Assembly elections.
“In the vision document prepared by BJP ahead of the last Assembly elections, the party told that they will implement all clauses of the Assam Accord. But now there is no talk on Assam Accord... they only want the CAB to get passed,” said Bhattacharya.
“The AASU will start a more vigorous agitation opposing the government’s move to bring in the CAB in the ongoing session of the Parliament,” stated Bhattacharya.
The AASU leader further said, “We told him that the Centre must implement the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. We’ll not accept any compromise on this issue. “
He added, “The Union Home Minister said the CAB is good, we said it is bad. It is bad for the indigenous people of Assam and the Northeast in general.”
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, State Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma were also present in the meeting called by Home Minister Shah.
However, a few minutes ahead of the meeting, Chief Minister Sonowal was shown black flags as a sign of protest against the Citizenship Bill by some unidentified people.
Sources said that the activists belong to the Krishak Janamukti Morcha.
Union Home Minister Shah is meeting with Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Naga Students Federation (NSF) as well. Shah has convened meetings with all stakeholders over CAB.