Axom Xatra Mahaxabha demands Citizenship (Amendment) Bill’s cancellation

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Axom Xatra Mahaxabha (AXM) has lambasted the State government for its stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and demanded the proposed law’s immediate cancellation, while also making an ardent appeal to the State government to call a meeting of all parties and organizations concerned on the Bill and restore peace in the State.

Talking to The Sentinel, AXM president Jitendranath Pradhani said, “All parties and organizations of Assam oppose the Bill, and so do we. The government should respect the democratic movement against the Bill and review its decision. We don’t want such Act in Assam. Our stand is clear, that foreigners are foreigners, whatever religion they practise. It also doesn’t matter where they’ve come from, be it Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Nepal. We’ve shouldered the burden of a huge bulk of foreigners. So, enough is enough. We can’t shoulder any further burden.”

Pradhani said his organization had opposed the Bill before the Joint Parliamentary Committee in New Delhi on April 25, 2018 and in Guwahati, too, on May 7, 2018. “We can’t accept such Bill and so we’ll continue to oppose it. We’re worried how the Bill has got passed in the Lok Sabha despite such strong protests in Assam,” he was candid.

Pradhani added: “The Government of Assam should immediately hold a meeting with all parties and organizations of the State on the Bill and restore peace in the State.”

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