Tarun Gogoi slams government on Citizenship Bill

Tarun Gogoi slams government on Citizenship Bill

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has slammed the BJP government on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the NRC update. On Bharat Ratna to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Gogoi said that had the icon been alive now, he would have opposed the Citizenship Bill.

Talking to the media here on Sunday, Gogoi said: “The BJP has scant regard for the democratic protests against the Bill in Assam and other States of the region. The government is bent on passing the Bill. The Bill has thrown a challenge for the Congress. We’re firm not to allow the passage of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha. I raised my opposition to the Bill in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) six months back. I did make the CWC know as to why the people of Assam don’t need such a Bill. If the need arises, we’ll meet the Congress high command against the Bill again. The Bill goes against secularism. The government will have to amend the Constitution of India first to pass such a Bill. By ignoring the democratic protests of the people of Assam and other States of the Northeast, the government has exposed its Hitlerism and fascism.” On NRC update in the State, Gogoi said: “Crores of rupees have been spent in vain in the NRC update exercise. Over 40 lakh applicants have not been included in the complete draft NRC. However, people whose names don’t figure in the NRC can also vote in 2019 Lok Sabha poll. What’s the use of NRC update in such a situation?”

On Bharat Ratna honour to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Gogoi said: “We’re happy for such an honour to Dr. Hazarika. However, had he been alive, he would have opposed the Citizenship Bill. Our ideology was quite different from that of Dr. Hazarika. Yet, our government did extend a helping hand when he going was getting tough for him.” Gogoi questioned the government as to why no Padmashree award was given to singer Zubeen Garg.

Also read: Guwahati city

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