AASU, 28 ethnic bodies sound next agitation bugle

GUWAHATI, June 2: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and 28 other ethnic organizations on Saturday declared their next phase of agitation to pressurize the Centre for withdrawal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, Registration of Foreigners (Amendment) Rules 2015, and Passport (Amendment) Rules 2015.

The organizations will centrally organize satyagraha at Latasil Playground here on June 29. Besides, the district units of the organizations will decide on the dates as to when they would organize satyagrahas in their areas.

The AASU and the allied 28 organizations have also made it clear that they will continue their agitation until the aforementioned bills and directives are not withdrawn. They have further stated that this is despite their willingness to participate in any parleys concerning the same.

The assertion to continue the agitation by the AASU and 28 other ethnic organizations came after a meeting between Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the leaders of the 29 organizations held at Dispur on Friday. Sonowal had convened the meeting with an aim to reaching a consensus with the AASU and the ethnic organizations to end the ongoing agitation and public strike across the State against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. But nothing as such happened at the meeting. Under such circumstances, the AASU and 28 other ethnic organizations have decided to continue their agitation.