AGP takes its protest to Rajnath Singh

CRY AGAINST ALIENS

A Correspondent

New Delhi, May 22: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on Tuesday lodged another formal protest before Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh opposing the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. AGP president and Assam minister Atul Bora called on Singh in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum opposing the contentious Bill. He was accompanied by party working president Keshab Mahanta.

In their memorandum, the duo reminded Singh of the pre-poll alliance equation that took shape between the AGP and the BJP.

“The first and foremost condition of our alliance with the BJP is translation of all provisions of the Assam Accord, and in such connection we expect your active cooperation as the head of the nodal ministry for implementation of all the clauses of the Assam Accord,” the AGP leaders said in their memorandum.

They said Assam has already accepted the burden of illegal migrants up to March 25, 1971, for which it was agreed, as per Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, that constitutional safeguard would be provided to the State but till date no steps appears to have been taken to that effect.

Tuesday’s formal protest before the Home Minister assumes significance as the alliance partner in the State has already threatened to come out of the alliance if the Citizenship Bill is passed in Parliament.

The duo said if the Bill is passed in Parliament, the demographic profile of the State will be altered and there will be a serious threat to the Assamese language, culture and history, while also reducing the natives of the State into a minority.

The AGP leaders further said the chief ministers of both Meghalaya and Bihar have opposed the Bill.

“The Government of Meghalaya has already taken a decision opposing the proposed legislation of Amendment of Citizenship Act, 1955. Besides, Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar is learnt to have expressed his intention before the representatives of the All Assam Students’ Union to oppose the proposed legislation of Amendment of Citizenship Act, 1955,” the duo AGP leaders said.