‘Citizenship (Amendment) Bill threat to Assamese identity and culture’- Sadou Dibrugarh Muslim Samaj

A Correspondent

Dibrugarh: A sit-in was staged under the aegis of Sadou Dibrugarh Muslim Samaj (SDMS) to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 on Thursday at Eidgah Maidan, Grahambazar. The agitation - lasting from 10 am to 12 pm – primarily revolved around airing the grievances of the indigenous Assamese Muslims regarding the proposed bill. The agitators also pilloried State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his recent communal and unwarranted remarks. They also demanded that the bill be rolled back as it poses a direct threat to the Assamese identity and culture.

Addressing the gathering, secretary of Naliapool Masjid, Nazmul Hussain asserted that he would never cease his fierce opposition to the bill, and if need be, lay down his life for the sake of the Assamese language and culture. Terming his love and affection for Assam immeasurable, he cautioned the BJP government not to play dirty politics in the State. Referring to the ‘Jinnah remark’ made by Sarma recently, Hussain said that if given a chance, he would like to ask Sarma in public who the Jinnah of the present times was.

A representative of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Pradip Haloi, who was also present on the occasion, slammed the government for being stoic to the aspirations and demands of the Assamese people. Condemning the ‘divide-and-rule’ policy of the government, he reminded the gathering of the heroics of Bagh Hazarika (Ismail Siddiqui), who under the command of Lachit Barphukan, was more than instrumental in the victory at the Battle of Saraighat. He also referred to Muzammal Haque, a martyr during the Bhasha Andolan. Dhrubajyoti Gogoi, representing Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Sanmilan, echoed the sentiments of the crowd, and called for unity among the entire Assamese population, cutting across religions.

Also read: Assam news