Kiren Rijiju’s Statement is Against Spirit of Assam Accord, says Asom Gana Parishad in Dibrugarh , Assam

A Correspondent

Dibrugarh, July 27: The Dibrugarh district committee of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has criticized the recent statement made by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju. In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the members expressed their sheer displeasure over the statement that highlighted the Centre’s intention to provide citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians who had entered India on the ground of alleged religious persecution till December 31, 2014. The members have categorically stated that even after multiple protests by AGP, various student and socio-cultural organizations over the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which seeks to legitimize the stay of the immigrants belonging to the said six communities in India, the remark of Rijiju was very unfortunate and objectionable.

They also took pot shots at the recent decision of the Centre to grant long-term visas to such immigrants, and informed that they would continue their protests over such unwelcome gestures. Stating that the statement of Rijiju was against the spirit of the Assam Accord of 1985, the members held that such a step would put the whole NRC exercise at jeopardy. They also added that in the event of granting citizenship to these communities, the Assamese people would be reduced to a minority, with their language and culture getting adversely affected.

The members have therefore demanded that the Central Government should not proceed any further in the matter of amendment to Passport Rules and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.